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Viral Fever
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(Fever/pyrexia caused by viral infection)
Introduction
Viral fever is a rise in body temperature above normal (37°C, 98.6°F) associated with bodyache due to viral infection. Fever is as a natural response to infection. The term viral fever covers a wide variety of viral infections, some of which can be clearly identified by their signs and symptoms.
Cause
Weak vital force and weak immunity to prevent infection and morbid environment help most of the viral infections, which may come from contaminated water, food, direct or indirect contact with infected person.
Signs and symptoms
- Fever
- Fatigue and malaise
- Body ache and muscle ache
- Running nose, nasal congestion, headache, redness of eyes, cough, muscle and joint pains
- Inflammation of pharynx
Some of the associated may also include:
- Swollen lymph glands
- Vomiting, diarrhoea, or jaundice
Investigation
In viral infections blood tests will not show any remarkable increase in the white blood cells, which typically occurs with bacterial infections. The numbers of lymphocytes may be increased. The Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) is not elevated. Confirmation if needed can be done by culture of virus from the relevant specimens such as nasal swabs, and skin rash or by increase in antibody levels in serial blood samples.
Differential diagnosis
Here are some conditions to be ruled out:
Typhoid fever or gastroenteritis
Gradual onset of malaise, headache, sore throat, cough; slow rise of (stepladder) fever, onset of diarrhoea or constipation; widal positive; blood, stool and urine culture positive for salmonella, characteristic tongue coating; abdominal discomfort in gastroenteritis.
Inflammatory bowel disease
Low grade fever; diarrhoea; pain, tenderness and/or mass in the right lower quadrant of abdomen; evidence of ulceration in the X-Ray; bloody and watery stool; sigmoidoscopic findings show oedema, erosions, mucopus and friability of mucosa; anaemia
Malaria
Periodic attacks of chills, fever and sweating; anaemia, splenomegaly and leucopenia; thick or thin blood films show the presence of one or more of the malarial parasites in erythrocytes
Tuberculosis
Fever with evening rise of temperature; fatigue, weight loss, night sweats and cough; pulmonary infiltrate of chest radiograph; positive tuberculin skin test reaction; positive sputum culture for mycobacterium tuberculosis or acid-fast bacilli on smear of sputum
Management
- If the fever is mild and no other problems are present, patient can be advised to drink much fluid and to take rest. A few homoeopathic medicines are available as OTC (Alpha-CF) product which takes care of agonising symptoms.
- Keeping the environment to be comfortable and cool.
- Taking sponge bath may help to cool a person with a fever.
- Avoidance of using cold baths or alcohol rubs.
- Drinking cool liquids but not chilled, as tolerated.
- Placing the ice packs in the armpits, behind the neck, and in the groin in case of high temperature
Get remedies
- Alpha-CF
- Aconitum Pentarkan
- BC 11
Disclaimer: The information provided herein on request should not be taken as a replacement of medical advice or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition.
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