Staying healthy at college is more than just knowing when to take ibuprofen, when to grab chicken soup, or when to call a doctor. And since you won't have your parents' guidance or their healthy homecooking once you're living on campus, the only prescription is to take extra good care of yourself before you get sick.

Living in such close quarters with so many other coeds can make you vulnerable to outside forces like viruses and bacteria, not to mention the stress you'll constantly face, which can take a toll on your mind and body. Here's how to beat the wheezes and sneezes, keep your stomach safe, and stay disease-free and once you're campus bound.

Needle Needs
It's extremely important to keep current on your vaccinations. In fact, more and more colleges are requiring students to get their shots, since living in residence halls puts them at a higher risk of contracting diseases such as meningitis. Some colleges' health centers even hunt their students down (well, they send letters) to make sure they've received the appropriate immunizations once they're living on campus. The last thing a college needs is a viral outbreak!

Unfortunately, John Kach, a Salve Regina University (Newport, RI) junior and education major, never got his meningitis shot. Ignoring the university's recommendation, John, who played basketball on Salve Regina's varsity team during his freshman year, contracted the virus. At first, John thought he had a bad case of the flu, but when he finally sought treatment for what he thought was dehydration, he was diagnosed with meningococcemia. This serious form of meningococcal meningitis infects the blood. John's kidneys and lungs soon shut down. He remained unconscious for six weeks in a drug-induced coma as his body fought the deadly bacterial infection. When gangrene set in John's right leg, doctors had no choice but to amputate it below the knee in order to save his life.

To avoid a similar harsh situation, contact your school's health center to make sure you're up to date on all the necessary and recommended vaccines.

'Tis the Cold and Flu Season
Despite the fact that everyone's been so flu-shot crazy lately, it's not on the list of shot requirements. "Health care workers and people with heart, lung, and kidney disease, asthma, and HIV are [the ones] who should be vaccinated yearly against the flu," advises Maria Haydon Buttner, registered nurse and clinical coordinator at Hurtado Health Center, located at Rutgers University (New Brunswick, NJ).

Then again, you don't want to battle a bout of the flu's aches and pains if you don't have to. On that note, there are precautions you can take to prevent catching or spreading the common cold or the feared flu. Buttner suggests washing your hands throughout the day. "You don't know what you may have picked up," she explains.

You should be on alert at mealtime as well. "Don't share food or drinks with others," she continues. "You don't know what they have; they might not even know what they have."

Allergic Reactions
Watery eyes, an itchy nose, the sniffles? If it's not the common cold, it's probably allergies. According to Dr. Eric Schenkel, a Philadelphia, PA-based specialist in internal medicine, allergy, and immunology, a move to a new city or dorm can trigger unexpected allergies.

"Stress can reduce your body's ability to cope with allergens and cause symptoms to occur more often and last longer," he says. "But since college students can't always avoid stress, it's even more important for them to take action and control their allergies."

If you're suffering from allergies, Dr. Schenkel recommends a visit to the doctor to get the right, non-sedating treatment. "That's the best way to properly diagnose your symptoms," he explains.

For patients with itchy, watery eyes, antihistamines like Clarinex are usually a recommended option. For those with nasal allergy symptoms such as congestion, doctors typically prescribe a nasal-inhaled steroid like Nasonex. If you're not yet at school and are anticipating an allergic reaction, there are also preventative medicines that can help you with the transition. Just ask your family doc.

Beware of STDs
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are completely preventable by practicing abstinence. If you choose to be sexually active, however, be aware of the consequences. Irresponsibility with this decision can lead to scary outcomes, among them infections -- some curable, others not. You learned about 'em already in health class, but if you need to refresh your memory, visit www.ashastd.org or www.teensource.org.

If you're not abstaining, remember to protect yourself all the time by using latex or polyurethane condoms.

"The only way to keep yourself 100 percent protected, however, is abstinence," asserts Buttner. "Just because you and your partner are monogamous does not mean that either of you don't have an infection from a prior partner."

And since symptoms aren't always apparent when one's infected, it's important to get tested regularly if you're engaging in any kind of sexual activity.

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