Viral fever is a collective term used for fever originating from a variety of viral infections. The average human body temperature is 98.4°F (37.1°C). Any degree of temperature above average is considered a fever. Classified into low-grade (below 100°F) in a few infections, and high-grade (above 100°F) in viral infections such as Dengue, etc.
Viral fever is usually acute, underlying viral infection and more common during season changes, e.g. Monsoon, lasting for 3-5 days of duration; in few severe cases, fever can last up to 14 days. Most common in kids and people with weak immunity, and at times, fever can go undiagnosed, and it could develop into severe complications. It should not be overlooked if you have a fever; you should seek medical care to diagnose and identify the infection. We recommend you consult our team of medical experts if you experience fever.
Symptoms associated with a viral fever can vary depending on the type of the viral infection and can also vary from person to person as follows:
Disclaimer: Most of the above symptoms are common in bacterial fevers too.
Viral fever attacks the immune system, and if left untreated, it could lead to secondary or opportunistic infections. Usually, viral fever is self-limiting, and the symptoms tend to subside or resolve on their own as the cycle of the virus nears its end. But, severe symptoms require immediate medical care to prevent any untoward effect on the body functions, one must consult a doctor and seek medical advice. You can consult our medical care experts for further guidance on the symptoms of viral fever and advice to manage them effectively.
There are many kinds of viruses that cause different types of fevers, such as influenza or the common cold. It gives you a high temperature and affects your breathing system where these symptoms will disappear within seven days if treated with some rest and drinking water only. On the other side, bacterial fever is caused by bacteria infecting certain parts of the human body resulting in localized pain. Strep throat or urinary tract infections are some examples of diseases that can lead to this fever. Unlike viral fevers, antibiotics should be used when curing it.
The classification of the types of viral fever depends on various factors such as mode of transmission, the severity of the disease, the body organ affected, etc. Viral fever-type will also depend on the type of the virus causing the infection. Broadly, viral fever can be classified as:
The majority of these viral fevers resolve are treated symptomatically. You can consult our medical experts on types, symptoms, causes, prevention, and treatment options.
Viral fever is caused by the pyrogens produced in the body when it fights the viral antigens as a defensive mechanism. Causes of viral fever can vary depending upon the type of virus attacking the body.
Get the right treatment for viral fever and stay healthy with our specialized care.
Identifying a viral fever becomes a complicated task because it shares many common symptoms with bacterial infections. For your doctor to get the right picture through understanding your personal peculiarities, he or she will question your symptoms, the time-frame, and the degree of severity. They might take blood, urine, or swab tests, and evaluate the amounts of white cells. Tests for Dengue, Malaria, Typhoid, or Chikungunya can also be recommended. Lab tests play a crucial role in detecting viral infections.
The treatment received will depend on the virus and the symptoms that one is presenting with. Paracetamol or ibuprofen might be the first to be given to a patient if the case is mild. Acetaminophen may also be given to the patient with a fever who is not a child who has been given paracetamol to decrease fever. Antibiotics may be given either due to primary infections or as a form of preventive treatment. Taking wrong medication is life-threatening, so it is very important to avoid self-medication. The second step is the medical consultation. Get your medical attention soon from a doctor to a proper diagnosis and treatment.
Certainly, antibiotics are not best used for colds and fever. The reasons are very simple – the cause for these diseases is caused by a virus hence antibiotic drugs can only work against bacterial infections. When people use antibiotics to treat viral illnesses, they might develop resistance to the drug and may also experience side effects. Penicillin may be prescribed for strep throat while trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole can be used to treat urinary tract infections among others.
Even after multiple counseling sessions, the most frequently asked question is: which antibiotic is best for fever? In view of this, it is highly recommended to take rest, drink plenty of water and use over-the-counter medicines for symptomatic relief like ibuprofen or acetaminophen. If the symptoms persist, become severe or worsen then it is important to see a healthcare provider who will check if there is any bacterial infection present which could need an antibiotic treatment.
Dos
Don’ts
“Prevention is better than cure,” this is especially true when it comes to viral fevers. It is the viral infections that are at the core of the problem for which prevention is key to avoid the onset of viral fever. Here are some essential tips:
Most infectious fevers are slight and are healed without severe symptoms or high fever on their own. Yet, consult a doctor if your child’s rectal temperature goes above 100.4F or your own temperature is 103°F or higher. The pediatrician can be consulted if the baby has viral fever for up to two weeks, which may mean that an additional infection has developed.
If you face difficult symptoms the doctor should be approached ten times in case of shortness of breath, chest pain, or extreme headache, and if the symptomology is expressed as nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, rashes that are getting worse, seizures, confusion, neck stiffness, and severe dehydration. The practice of self-medication should be stopped and a doctor should be consulted for accurate diagnosis so that the treatment can be started as soon as possible.
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