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.








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.








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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