{"171481":{"#nid":"171481","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Health Services Shares Steps for Protecting Against Pneumonia","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWhen most of us think about pneumonia, we don\u2019t think of it as being contagious; however, there is a strain of the infection \u2014 better known as \u201cwalking pneumonia\u201d \u2014 that can wreak havoc on a college campus if the right precautions aren\u2019t taken.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe\u2019ve seen about 60 cases since this semester started,\u201d said Gregory Moore, senior director of Stamps Health Services. \u201cWhile this infection can be treated with antibiotics, prevention is always best.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETypical symptoms of the pneumonia, which is caused by a mycoplasma infection, include fever, cough, bronchitis, sore throat, headache and fatigue. For most, symptoms begin two to three weeks after exposure and may persist for a few days to more than a month.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cStudents are the most likely group on campus to become infected with this type of pneumonia due to their age and the fact that they live in close quarters with one another,\u201d Moore said. \u201cAlthough this tends to be a young adult disease, that doesn\u2019t mean that students are the only members of the campus community at risk.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFaculty and staff members should familiarize themselves with the symptoms of the infection and practice the following precautionary measures:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EEat well and get enough sleep.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EDon\u0027t smoke.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ESneeze and cough into the crook of your elbow.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EWash your hands frequently or use sanitizer.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EDispose of used tissues properly.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EStay home and seek medical care if you become sick.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cTaking these measures is a great way to safeguard yourself and others against this disease,\u201d Moore said. \u201cBut remember, if you develop a cough and fever that just won\u2019t go away, please seek medical care and don\u2019t come to work until the infection is under control.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor more information about walking pneumonia, click \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/tinyurl.com\/a2vpksp\u0022\u003Ehere\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":null,"format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWhen most of us think about pneumonia, we don\u2019t think of it as being contagious; however, there is a strain of the infection \u2014 better known as \u201cwalking pneumonia\u201d \u2014 that can wreak havoc on a college campus if the right precautions aren\u2019t taken.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"When most of us think about pneumonia, we don\u2019t think of it as being contagious."}],"uid":"27445","created_gmt":"2012-11-15 15:51:08","changed_gmt":"2016-10-08 03:13:10","author":"Amelia Pavlik","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2012-11-15T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2012-11-15T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"related_links":[{"url":"http:\/\/health.gatech.edu\/Pages\/default.aspx","title":"Stamps Health Services"}],"groups":[{"id":"1259","name":"Whistle"}],"categories":[{"id":"129","name":"Institute and Campus"}],"keywords":[{"id":"50601","name":"Gregory Moore"},{"id":"50631","name":"mycoplasma infection"},{"id":"50611","name":"pneumonia"},{"id":"167128","name":"Stamps Health Services"},{"id":"50621","name":"walking pneumonia"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EStamps Health Services\u003Cbr \/\u003E404-894-1420\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}