Viral Fever
Viral fever is most common during monsoons and is caused due to viral infections. Viruses are microscopic germs that can quickly transmit from one person to another. It sometimes goes misdiagnosed until it has progressed to the later stages due to lack of awareness. Apart from that, the practice of self-medicating with antibiotics to lower a high body temperature raises the risk of problems. As a result, early detection of viral fever is critical.
What is Viral Fever?
Acute viral infections caused by seasonal changes and infection in the environment are referred to as viral fever. A rise in normal body temperature is the most common symptom. During monsoon, this can affect people of all ages. The virus causes a higher-than-normal body temperature. Runny nose, coughing, nausea, exhaustion, and body aches are some of the symptoms that a person may suffer. With patience and supportive therapies like cold compresses and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, most viral diseases will improve. A high body temperature, on the other hand, may necessitate medical intervention.
Symptoms
People may experience:
- Muscle and joint pains
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Sore throat
- Running nose
- High body temperature, up to 104 degrees
- Swelling in face
- Dehydration
- Occasional chills
- Eye redness
- Skin rash
Causes
- Viruses are a type of infectious agent that is very small. They invade and multiply throughout your body's cells
- Viral sickness can be caused due to various viruses, including cold and flu viruses.
- Food and drinks may be contaminated with deadly viruses. Swallowing the contaminated food can lead to some viral infections like norovirus and enteroviruses.
- Viruses carried out by insects or animals can cause viral infections like fever and rabies.
- Exchanging bodily fluids with the person who has viral infection can cause hepatitis B and HIV.
- Due to low immunity babies and children have a high risk of getting infected with viral infections.
- Elderly people are more prone to viral infections as they have very weak immune systems.
- Getting in contact with the contaminated area can lead to viral infections.
How to Diagnose?
It's tough to detect viral fever by looking at the symptoms. As a result, the doctor will ask for some blood tests to rule out any additional issues. These tests can reveal the presence of any bacterial infection that might be responsible for the symptoms.
They may swab your throat if you have a sore throat to check for bacteria that causes strep throat. If the test results are negative, you are most likely infected with a virus. They can also collect a sample of your blood or other bodily fluid to look for indicators that indicate a viral infection, such as your white blood cell count. For identifying the virus the doctor may ask a person to go through blood, sputum and urine. The sample collected helps the doctor in diagnosing various diseases such as dengue, malaria, chikungunya, typhoid, etc.
Treatment
Treatment for viral fever is determined by the severity of the illness. Doctors typically give drugs to alleviate the symptoms of viral fever and lower the temperature. Self-medication can exacerbate an existing problem. As a result, treatment should always be sought from a doctor.
Treatment for mild infections:
There are fewer antibiotics for the treatment of viral infections. Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen, Aspirin, Naproxen, and other NSAIDs are examples. Antibiotics, on the other hand, maybe administered to prevent subsequent infection, based on your medical history and current state.
Treatment for serious infections:
Serious infections can cause a variety of serious viral fever symptoms, including delirium, seizures, coma, blood infection (sepsis), multi-organ failure, respiratory fever, and more. A persistent temperature of more than 103°F can be caused by complicated viral diseases. This is a medical emergency that necessitates admission to an Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
A widespread myth about fever is that it can be treated by taking a bath in freezing cold water or applying it to the skin. In reality, prolonged exposure to extremely cold temperatures can be harmful to the body. Instead, a bath should be taken in lukewarm water. Body temperature higher than normal can lead to seizures and hallucinations.
Do’s & Don’ts During Viral Fever
Do’s:
Take rest for relaxation so that the medicines may do their job and your immunity can be restored. To heal the root infection, finish the course of medication. To avoid dehydration, increase your fluid intake. Lighter meals that are easy to digest are recommended.
Don’ts:
Self-medication should be avoided at all costs. Taking medications without sufficient understanding and diagnosis exacerbates the problem. To limit the risk of infection, do not share personal items such as handkerchiefs or meals with others. Antibiotics should only be taken if a doctor has recommended them. The patient's surroundings and temperature should stay normal. Patients shouldn’t bind up with heavy clothes or blankets even if they get chills.
Prevention of Viral Fever
The infected person can spread the viral infections by sneezing, breathing and touching surfaces. By limiting your exposure to infectious diseases, you may be able to avoid getting a fever. Here are some points that may be useful:
- Frequently washing your hands
- Teach your children how to wash the hands
- Sanitize your hand
- Avoid direct touching your nose and mouth
- Avoid sharing your cups or utensils with others
When compared to normal and mild temperatures, viral development is slowed at higher temperatures. As a result, try to eat food while it is still warm. To prevent the risk of infection, change your clothes promptly after a visit to the hospital, whether for a checkup or to meet a patient.
