Viral Fever - Symptoms, Treatment and Home Remedies for Fever
Viral Fever Overview
The body temperature of a normal person should be about
98.6°F. If anyone has a body temperature more than this, it is considered as
fever. Fevers are a sign that the body is fighting off some type of bacterial
or viral infection. Viral fever is caused by an underlying viral illness.
Various factors characterize viral fever including burning body temperature,
constant fever, headache, and weakness. Children, pregnant women, and old people
are prone to this fever due to low immunity level to fight viruses. Viral fever
can range from mild to serious level and lack of treatment can be fatal to body
mechanism and immunity.
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Viral Fever Symptoms
It is to be noted that symptoms of viral fever overlap with
various other diseases such as Dengue, Chikungunya, Typhoid, and Malaria.
Therefore, it is of utmost importance to understand some of the very important
symptoms of viral fever to flag out your doubts before going for a diagnosis.
Symptoms of viral fever are as follows:
Viral fever is intermittent in nature and one experiences it
at regular intervals. For example, most of the people experience viral fever
during a particular time at noon or in the evening.
Viral fever comes with chills. One can experience cold even
during extremely hot and humid temperature.
Running nose or nasal congestion, redness of the eye,
irritation in swallowing foods are some of the symptoms of viral fever.
Viral fever is not cured with regular fever medicines. Normal
fever medicine is effective in a viral fever for a short time. Once the effect
of the medicine goes down, the fever returns.
A feverish situation is a viral fever when it is persistent
for a long time.
Fatigue is also a symptom of viral fever. The patient feels
exhausted and tired all the time without doing anything.
Inflammation of the pharynx.
Skin rashes can be observed in the case of viral fever. The patient feels itchy and dry skin.
Viral Fever Causes
Viral fever is caused by the attack of a virus in the body.
However, in general cases, viral fever is mostly similar to fever rising from
bacterial infection. The various causes of viral fever are:
Being close to an infected person
Being in a place where a particular viral fever is prevalent
Working with sick people
Sharing needles for intravenous drugs
Being close to infected animals or slaughtering them
If the place is infested with rats
Unprotected sex
Being in a place where particular strains of viral fever are
doing the rounds
Viral Fever Diagnosis: Methods and Tests
Viral fever should not be taken lightly. It is always
advised to be diagnosed under the supervision of a medical professional when
the symptoms of viral fever are experienced. Symptoms of viral fever and fever
due to bacterial infection are almost similar and indistinguishable. Therefore,
the doctor would first suggest going for a Complete Blood Count Test before
treating the illness.
Complete Blood Count (CBC) is a blood test prescribed and
done to examine the overall health and detect a number of disorders including
anemia and infection. CBC blood test determines that a bacteria or a virus
causes the fever. However, it is to be noted that, a blood test cannot detect a
virus, but can detect a bacterium. So, if no bacteria are found and the patient
has a running fever then it becomes clear that it is a viral fever. Apart from
the CBC test, there are certain other diagnostic methods to diagnose viral
fever in a person through blood or urine.
Viral Antigen Detection Test: In the case of viral fever,
the virus leads to the development of viral antigens on the surface of your
infected blood cells. These antigens are used as antibodies to fight the
infection. Viral Antigen Detection test is very effective in diagnosing viral
fever.
The Antibody Test: The antibodies developed by the body in
any kind of infection have a very specific nature. So, an antibody blood test
is proven best to diagnose the kind of virus, which have affected the body.
Viral Culture Test: If the fever lasts for more than a week,
the doctor suggests a viral culture test. This test is taken through a sample
of body fluids (urine or blood). Here the virus growth in the body is detected
by keeping the sample in a place to support the growth and development of the
virus.
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Viral Fever Treatment- Home Remedies and Medicines
Once the detection of viral fever is done, the doctor will
treat the patient based on the symptoms observed.
Antipyretic Drug: If high temperature and fever is the only
symptom experienced by the patient, the doctor may suggest taking an antipyretic drug such as Ibuprofen, Naproxen, and Ketoprofen.
Analgesic Drug: In the case of muscle or joint pain,
headache, etc, the patient has prescribed Analgesic drugs (pain relievers) with
Acetaminophen.
Antibiotics or Probiotics Supplements: If the viral fever
has caused infection in the nasal tract or stomach, then antibiotics or
probiotics such as Ceftum, Lactobacillus Acidophilus, etc are prescribed to
heal the infection.
Home Remedies for Viral Fever
Home remedies are the best treatment for viral infection, as
they do not have any side effect. They can be taken in any form. Patients can
use them with other foods also. Some of the natural remedies, which are very
effective in case of viral infection, are:
Ginger
Curd
Basil Leaves
Cinnamon
Fenugreek water and Carom seed water
Coriander leaves, Bay leaves, and Rosemary
Rice Starch
Honey
Turmeric milk
Citrus fruits such as Orange, Lime, Grapefruit
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