Viral fever is an acute viral illness brought on by seasonal changes and environmental infection. Most people experience a rise in their average body temperature as a symptom. All ages are susceptible during the monsoon season. When infected with the virus, a person’s fever rises over usual.
Some possible side effects include a stuffy nose, cough, nausea, fatigue, and aches and pains all over the body. Most viral illnesses can be treated successfully with time and over-the-counter (OTC) medications, such as cold compresses. However, a high internal temperature may call for medical attention.
The major signs of viral fever:
- On and off fever
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Weakness
- Chills
- Headache
- Muscle, body, and joint pains
- Inflammation of the pharynx
- Painful tonsils
- Running nose
- Nasal congestion
- Chest congestion
- Sore throat
- Burning sensation in eyes
- Cough
- Skin rashes
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Vomiting
The significant viral fever reasons that can lead to infection:
When the immune system detects and attacks invading infections, the result is a fever. When hazardous organisms like viruses or bacteria invade your body, your immune system instinctively reacts by trying to eliminate the threat.
When this kind of thing happens, the body’s temperature goes over the roof. In most cases, viruses spread from:
Contaminated air droplets inhalation:
When an infected person coughs, sneezes, or speaks casually without protecting their face, they release infectious droplets into the air that can infect those around. When breathed in, it can develop an infection.
Intake of food that is contaminated:
Food contamination is a major source of infectious disease transmission. There is a risk of contracting a virus by eating tainted food.
Mosquito bites:
Malaria and dengue fever are only two of the many mosquito-borne illnesses that peak during the monsoon season. Mosquito bites can also spread viruses that can cause fever.
At times the cause of fever is not quite known, and such a condition is referred to as pyrexia (unknown fever).
Though both bacterial and viral fever may be severe depending on various reasons, the major difference between viral fever vs. bacterial fever can include unlike viral fever, which typically decreases after two weeks, fever caused by bacteria can continue for more than 14 days. After a few days of a bacterial infection, the fever will worsen instead of subsiding like a virus. Bacterial fever tends to have a higher fever than viral fever.
How to diagnose viral fever?
When assessing a fever, a doctor may:
- Inquire about signs and symptoms, as well as your medical background.
- Check out their physical condition.
- A sample of the nose and throat for testing for respiratory illnesses.
- Based on the viral fever symptoms in children, medical history, and exam findings, your doctor will order appropriate diagnostic tests, such as blood work and a chest X-ray.
Your baby may need to be taken to the hospital for testing and treatment if they develop a fever. A high temperature in an infant can be a sign of a dangerous illness, especially in a baby younger than two months.
After the sample testing, when it confirms the results, fever or pyrexia treatment is provided in case it does not show any underlying issues. Fever treatment for children is drastically different from that of adults as it involves mild steps. Along with the treatment few home remedies can also bring a change in the fever levels in children.
Treatment for viral fever in children:
The severity of symptoms and the specific virus at play will dictate the course of treatment for viral fever. It is common practice for child specialists to try to prescribe medication for mild viral fever.
It’s possible that a child specialist will prescribe fever medicine. Antibiotics are another option he may give you, but they are meant to treat secondary infections you may get while unwell. Finishing the entire course of antibiotics prescribed by a child specialist is crucial.
The body will start producing antibiotic-resistant bacteria if you stop taking the antibiotics in the middle of a course. Therefore, in the future, some of the antibiotics prescribed for any sickness may not function because of the presence of resistant bacteria in your body.
While taking the treatment, taking ample rest and drinking lots of fluid to cope with dehydration can help you deal with fatigue and also helps you recover quickly. Reach out to a child specialist in Coimbatore to avail of the treatment and contain the fever to avoid complications.
However, as you start to notice a temperature of 102 degrees or more, it’s important to reach out to a doctor as soon as possible, as it may be a sign of a serious viral infection, and treatment needs to be provided.
