Viral fever usually lasts for a short time but can also cause a long-term infection. They generate an abnormally high body temperature. Hence, the most common symptom of viral fever is an increase in normal body temperature.
What is Viral Fever?
Viral fever is a single term used for fevers caused by a range of viral infections. The viruses, which are the causative agent of viral infections, are microscopic and can quickly travel from one person to another. Viral fever can range from moderate (below 100°F) to fatal (above 100°F) in infections. The viral fever duration ranges from 3 or 5 days to 14 days, depending on the kind of viral infection.
It is a very common type of fever and can affect any group of persons with weak immunity.
Viral Fever Symptoms
Viral fever in itself is not an illness but a sign of an underlying cause, which is a viral infection. Viral fever symptoms depend upon the types of viral fever and the viral infection and vary from individual to individual.
The following are some of the most common viral fever symptoms associated with the majority of viral infections:
- Headache
- Nasal and chest congestion
- High fever (103-104 degrees Fahrenheit)
- Dehydration
- Vomiting
- Mild to severe muscle ache and joint pain
- Dizziness
- Burning sensation in eyes
- Chills
- Swelling on face and rashes on the skin
- Loss of appetite
- Tonsillitis
- Coughing
- Fatigue
Usually, viral fever symptoms disappear as soon as the virus’ cycle ends. However, the infection can sometimes have a severe impact on the immune system, leading to secondary infections or health issues.
Viral Fever Causes
The cause for viral fever is the infection by the virus. The viruses are tiny infectious agents that invade the body and multiply throughout the body cells.
Viral fever is the defense mechanism of the body to fight the virus. As many viruses are sensitive to temperature changes, a quick rise in our body temperature makes us less virus-friendly.
Viral fever can have various causes, depending on the virus invading the body:
1. Through Inhalation
Inhaling the virus-containing droplets from an infected person can spread viral fever. The most common example of this is the common cold or seasonal flu.
2. Through Eating
Viral fever can be spread by sharing food or drinks with someone who has been infected with the virus. Also, eating fruits and vegetables infected with the virus can result in a viral infection, e.g., norovirus.
3. Through Insect Bites
Insects like mosquitoes and ticks can carry viruses and are capable of transmitting the virus to the human body, which can cause viral fever. E.g., the female Aedes mosquito is responsible for causing dengue.
4. Through Body Fluids
Exchange of body fluids like blood during a medical surgery or drug abuse can also transfer a viral infection from an infected person to a healthy body resulting in viral fever.
Other causes for viral fever can be:
- Contaminated water
- Exchange of body fluid during sexual intercourse
- Coming in contact with the carrier (a person with no symptoms but capable of transmitting the virus) or host (infected with the viral infection) of the virus.
How to Diagnose?
Viral and bacterial infections have similar symptoms; hence, it is sometimes difficult to diagnose the precise cause of infection. To rule out bacterial infection and diagnose viral fevers, a doctor will take into account the symptoms and medical history of an individual. They might consider microbial testing too.
Viral infection is also diagnosed by detecting the presence of markers for an infection in the sample of blood or other bodily fluid, like WBCs, collected for testing.
Who is Prone to Viral Fever?
The following conditions make individuals prone to viral fever –
- Unprotected sexual intercourse with an infected person
- Traveling to an area with a high prevalence of viral fever
- Working or sitting around an infected person
- Using the same needle for intravenous drugs in different patients
People with weak immunity, like babies, children, and elders, are also highly vulnerable to viral fever too.
Viral Fever Treatment
It is important to note the following points for the treatment of viral fever:
- The treatment for viral fever depends upon the kind of viral infection and the intensity of the symptoms in the human body.
- For a low-grade viral fever, doctors usually prescribe antibiotics like paracetamol or ibuprofen.
- When the viral fever temperature is high, a high dose of paracetamol is prescribed by the doctor to be taken more frequently (every 4-6 hours) to relieve the symptoms.
- If the antibiotics don’t work, paracetamol is sometimes administered intravenously to the patient to bring the temperature down to normal.
- Lukewarm water bath and electrolyte consumption are advisable for muscle aches, fatigue, diarrhea, etc., in cases of viral fever.
People often try to treat viral fever at home by self-medicating. But viral fever treatment without consulting a medical professional is highly dangerous as the course of every antibiotic is different. It is important to complete the full course of an antibiotic as stopping it in the middle may produce complications like antibiotic resistance and severe health issues.
Viral Fever Treatment at Home
Instead of self-medicating, there are numerous ways of treating viral fever at home that offer benefits, such as:
1. Taking Proper Rest
Muscle or body aches are common in viral fever. To relieve these, it is recommended to rest and have proper 8 to 9 hours of sleep at night to give the body time to heal.
2. Fluid Intake
Viral fever also causes dehydration, due to which the body loses fluids. To replenish the lost fluids, one must try to drink as much water as possible. Also, fruit juice, soups, and broths may help keep the body hydrated. For babies and toddlers, specialized formulated drinks with electrolytes such as Pedialyte might be beneficial.
3. Herbal Remedies
Herbal medicines may also be beneficial in treating viral fever by reducing the temperature. This includes plant-based remedies like moringa that offer a variety of nutritional and medicinal benefits. However, this should be avoided during pregnancy and while being on allopathic medications.
Homeopathic Medicine for Viral Fever
Apart from allopathic treatment for viral fever, there may be numerous homeopathic medicines, which help in minimizing the effects of viral infections on the body.
- Homeopathic medicines are non-addictive and natural. They help treat health problems like cough, cold, fever, etc., in both kids and adults with zero side effects.
- Aconite and nux vomica are a few examples of homeopathic medicines for fever. In cases of viral infection, aconite, Gelsemium, and eupatorium perfoliatum are of great help.
- Aconite is used to treat nasal congestion and fever with anxiety and restlessness. Gelsemium is used to treat running nose and sneezing along with headache and eye pain, and eupatorium perfoliatum is used to provide relief from pain with no adverse effects.
Note: There are a few homeopathic drugs for treating viral fever. However, it is best to see a homeopathic doctor first because the practitioner will recommend medicines based on your symptoms.
Summing Up on Viral Fever
Viral fever is highly contagious and can infect any age group. Viral fever can easily infect a person with a weak immune system from the young to adults. It can range from low to high-grade fever, depending on the type of viral infection. Its symptoms can be easily confused with a bacterial infection. Therefore, it is advised to consult a medical practitioner before popping medicines.
During a viral fever, it is very important to keep the body hydrated to avoid dehydration. “Prevention is better than cure,” so it is better to prevent viral infections by maintaining personal hygiene and avoiding coming in contact with an infected individual.
FAQs
Viral Fever Duration - How Many Days Does Viral Fever Last?
Viral fever duration is determined by the longevity of the virus in the body. A viral fever usually lasts for 3-5 days, with some symptoms fading after a few more days. However, the cycle for some viruses could be longer, and a viral fever might last up to 2 weeks. If the symptoms are still present after 2 weeks, it is advised to consult a doctor for the diagnosis and proper treatment of the viral fever.
Does Oxygen Level Drop in Viral Fever?
It is possible that viral fever could be related to low oxygen levels. As the temperature of the body rises, oxygen saturation decreases. This results in decreased oxygen flow to the lungs, breathing difficulties, and possibly lung injuries. The oxygen saturation level should not go below 94 percent for a prolonged period. Otherwise, it could cause considerable damage to lung tissues. An oxygen mask may be required to supply oxygen to maintain the health of the lungs. A pulse oximeter may also be used to check oxygen saturation levels.
What Is the Viral Fever Temperature?
Depending on the underlying virus, viral fever temperature can range from mild (99 degrees F) to severe (103 degrees F).
What Are the Types of Viral Fever?
The severity of viral fever varies based on the type of virus and the organ in the body that is affected. It's thereby categorized as:
- Respiratory Tract Viral Fever: The viral fever related to flu-like symptoms such as cough, cold, fever, body ache, etc., is termed respiratory tract viral fever.
- Gastrointestinal Tract Viral Fever: Viral fever associated with digestive issues such as diarrhea, stomach discomfort, vomiting, etc., is called gastrointestinal tract viral fever.
- Neurological Viral Fever: Viruses that cause neurological damage are said to cause neurological viral fever.
- Viral Hemorrhagic Fever: Viral fever linked to dysfunctioning of the circulatory system is called viral hemorrhagic fever.
- Skin Eruption Viral Fever: Viral fever associated with breakouts and rashes on the skin is called skin eruption or exanthematous viral fever.
- Cutaneous Viral Fever: Lesions or pimples grow on the skin as a result of cutaneous viral fever.
- Hepatic Viral Fever: Hepatic viral fever is a viral fever associated with liver inflammation.
References
- Viral infections (2018) - https://medlineplus.gov/viralinfections.html
- Tunkel AR, Fever (2016) - https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/infectious-diseases/biology-of-infectious-disease/fever
- Kramer LD, Overview of viral infections. - https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/infections/overview-of-viral-infections/overview-of-viral-infections
