Cold and flu season is in full swing throughout the United States, and college campuses are not exempt.
According to the American College Health Association’s National College Health Assessment (NCHA), nearly 40% of U.S. college students had been impacted by a cold or virus or other respiratory illness as of the 2023-2024 school year. Influenza or flu-like illnesses were reported to affect 12% of college students, followed by a stomach virus at 9.5%. When reflecting on the Education Data Initiative’s report that college enrollment in fall 2024 was about 19 million, that is about 7.6 million students affected by respiratory illnesses alone. Approximately 2.3 million students were infected with the flu or other flu-like symptoms.
At UW-Green Bay, are the rates that high?
Starting in freshman year, students living on campus have access to private bathrooms that are shared with roommates, rather than communal bathrooms typically seen on college campuses. This can allow for higher standards of cleanliness, although that depends on the resident. Fewer people are utilizing the bathrooms, which could help decrease illness rates.
In a survey conducted by Zoey Zeller last April, responses from UWGB students and residents of other campuses disclosed similar rates of sickness to the NCHA’s report. The survey was posted on the school’s Snapchat story, as well as through Instagram, and nearly 80 students responded. Most of the respondents were from UWGB, but other schools like UW-Milwaukee, UW-Madison, UW-La Crosse, and others were represented. Almost 50% of respondents reported that they were sick at least one to two times per year throughout their college career, with 29.3% falling ill three to four times, and 17.3% stated they experienced illness five or more times per year. Similar to the NCHA survey, cold or respiratory infections were most common, with influenza ranking second.
Most respondents had a living situation with private bathrooms, rather than communal. The survey also asked for students’ opinions on how often they get sick if they currently have a private bathroom but used a communal one in the past. About 34% of responses indicated a noticeable change in illness frequency, while 14% noted a potential change. While there is no concrete evidence, student responses suggested a benefit in using private bathrooms regarding sickness rates.
Students from various college campuses were interviewed. UW-Madison Freshman Nadia Kakatsch has had a particularly rough time with sickness while living in her college dorm. She reported experiencing sickness three times while living in a dorm with communal bathrooms, but it was never just a cold or a cough. Sinus infections, ear infections, pink eye, strep throat, and respiratory problems were present, and it often got others sick, too. Kakatsch also said that, while living in the dorms, she experienced the most severe illness of her life, resulting in her ending up at the emergency room one night. “It was like the dorm amplified my sickness. It also dragged out the period of time it takes for me to recover,” she said.
The UW-Madison student called the communal bathroom a “germ-infested cage,” and said that they were never cleaned enough. “When one girl was sick, at least two other people would catch it too. There was one week when four girls on my floor all had pink eye at the same time.”
UWGB Freshman Jason Tewes noted that he has become sick less frequently while living on campus, rather than at home. “I share a living space and bathroom with three or more people at all times, compared to my one roommate in my dorm,” Tewes said.
The Wellness Center on UWGB’s campus offers a variety of resources, including medical care, counseling, and well-being workshops. On any given day, there are two nurse practitioners and two registered nurses (RNs), as well as front desk staff.
In an interview with RN Katie Carlson, the most common illnesses seen on campus are upper respiratory diseases, strep throat, mono, and others. She said that they can vary throughout the year and can be dependent on the season. “Generally speaking, illness trends mimic what is circulating in the community,” Carlson stated.
When asked about her opinions on the correlation between private bathrooms and sickness rates, she mentioned that she doesn’t believe a specific type is more impactful than other factors. “For example, hand washing practices, staying home when you’re sick, cleaning high-touch surfaces, covering cough, etc.,” Carlson listed.
On most campuses, communal bathrooms are cleaned daily or a few times a week. Private bathrooms could be cleaned either more or less often, and to several standards of cleanliness, depending on the resident. Frequency of guests can also vary greatly contingent upon the resident’s lifestyle and social life, which can feed into transmission through the bathroom situation.
Regardless, staff and students, particularly those who live on campus, should practice the good hygiene practices that Carlson suggested above. She also urges matters like taking care of yourself, with exercise, eating healthfully, and getting enough sleep. Cleaning and sanitizing daily can help limit contact with germs.