Viral Fever Symptoms, Causes & Prevention
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Medically Reviewed By
Dr. Ragiinii Sharma
Written By Meenakshi
on Jul 27, 2023
Last Edit Made By Meenakshi
on Apr 17, 2024
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As the weather changes, Viral Fever finds its way into our lives. Whether it’s the common cold, flu, or cough, these pesky infections make us feel under the weather. Fighting them and staying fit is necessary, but it can only be possible if we know everything about them. Fear not! In this blog, we’ll shed light on Viral Fever, its symptoms, causes, and what you can do to protect yourself & your loved ones. So, what are you waiting for? Before viral Fever enters your life, let’s navigate through their world and arm ourselves with the right knowledge to stay healthy & resilient.
What is a Viral Fever?
Viral Fever is a term used to describe a medical condition caused by viral infections. Characterized by Fever, chills & other flu-like symptoms, Viral Fever poses significant health risks if not managed effectively. Viruses responsible for causing Viral Fever belongs to different families, including Influenza, Rhinovirus, Coronavirus, etc.
Different viruses affect our bodies differently, leading to various symptoms that affect our health. Since the cause can be other, so does their incubation period, and symptoms usually start to appear within a few days to a week after exposure. Being alert of those symptoms is the easiest way to identify those culprits hidden in your body early and fight them before they take a severe shape.
So, how do you find Viral Fever? What are the early symptoms of Viral Fever? Worry not! We’ve got the answer here!
Viral Fever Symptoms:
The symptoms vary depending on the type of virus responsible for causing the infection in the body, the individual’s immune response, age, gender, current health status, and other factors. However, some common Viral Fever Symptoms that most people may experience include the following:
- High Fever: High body temperature or Fever is one of the primary signs of a Viral Fever, and if the temperature is not breaking in a day or other symptoms are worsening, you must get yourself tested.
- Too Much Lethargy: Viral Infections weaken our body from the inside out, leading to excessive fatigue and weakness, making it difficult to carry out even the simplest daily activities.
- Muscle Aches: Many viral infections may cause intense pain in the muscles & joints, leading to discomfort.
- Sore Throat & Cough: Most viral infections cause respiratory illnesses, leading to soreness, itching, or pain in the throat, which sometimes is accompanied by a cough.
- Runny Or Stuffy Nose: Cough & nasal congestion are typical symptoms mostly associated with Viral Fever.
- Nausea & Vomiting: In some cases, one may experience gastrointestinal issues, like nausea & vomiting.
Remember, these symptoms could also indicate other illnesses, and to determine the actual cause, it is always advisable to seek medical assistance. Depending on your symptoms, medical history, and other factors, your healthcare provider may suggest Viral Fever Basic Screening or Fever Test to evaluate your condition better & suggest appropriate treatment.
How long does a Viral Fever last? - Viral Fever Duration:
In most cases, Viral Fever duration in adults or kids last 3-4 days and extend up to a week and sometimes even longer. It is essential to understand that Viral Fever Duration varies depending on the type of virus infection you are contracted with and individual factors. If your fever persists for longer and you may have other symptoms, it is advisable to go for a proper Fever Screening to confirm the cause and obtain the treatment in time.
Viral Fever is common, and everyone must have had it at some point. What causes it to get hold of our body and make us sick? Let’s take a look.
Common Causes Of Viral Fever:
- Viral Fever results from viral infections, such as:
- Influenza Virus: Causes seasonal flu.
- Adenovirus: Responsible for respiratory & gastrointestinal infections.
- Rhinovirus: The primary cause of the common cold.
- Coronavirus: Strain of Coronavirus, like SARS-COV-2, is responsible for triggering Fever & respiratory symptoms.
- Enterovirus: Often induces infections & mouth diseases.
- Dengue Virus: Transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito, and is responsible for high Fever & bone pain & more.
- Chikungunya Virus: Usually causes Joint pain, rashes & high Fever.
Apart from viral infections, some other Viral Fever Causes are:
- Sharing food & drinks with an infected person.
- Drinking & eating contaminated food & water.
- Exchanging bodily fluids with an infected individual.
- Low immunity in babies, children & older adults with a high risk of developing infections.
- Close contact with an infected person may also cause Viral Fever.
The cause could be anything; the fact is that Viral Fever can take over your health, leading to complications, and getting tested in time is critical.
Viral Fever – Diagnosis:
Viral Fever cannot be identified alone by looking at the symptoms. As a result, doctors may suggest specific tests to determine the virus responsible for causing the infection. Such as:
- Nasal Or Throat Swabs
- Blood Tests
- Viral Cultures
- Rapid Diagnostic Tests
Getting tested as suggested by your healthcare provider is highly advisable to confirm the diagnosis and ensure appropriate Viral Fever treatment. Not all Viral Fevers are life-threatening; some can be easily managed following simple preventive measures. Scroll down to know more:
Tips To Manage Viral Fever:
- Get Plenty Of Rest: If you are down with Viral Fever, giving your body adequate rest is essential to fight the viral infection and recover fast.
- Stay Hydrated: Viral Fever usually causes dehydration and can lead to weakness in the body. Thus, drinking plenty of healthy fluids, such as water, herbal teas, or fresh juices, is advisable.
- Go For Screening: Do not overlook any of your symptoms and go for timely screening to confirm the cause and ensure an accurate diagnosis. It will help you catch the illness and take preventive measures as required.
- Follow Medical Advice: It is always advisable to complete the medicine course and follow all the other preventive measures as suggested by your healthcare provider to manage the symptoms & combat the illness.
These are some general guidelines and may work differently for every individual. Therefore, it is always advisable to consult your healthcare provider and follow their instructions, whether related to the test, medicine, diet, or routine modifications.
You caught the Fever, took the treatment, and recovered well! Is there any way to prevent it from acquiring in the first place or keeping ourselves safe in the future? There is no one way to avoid it completely, but some tips can reduce your risks of getting into its grip. Scroll down to unfold them.
Viral Fever – Prevention Tips:
If you want to prevent being the victim of Viral Fever, it is advisable to follow certain proactive measures to reduce your risk of viral infection. Some preventive tips that one may follow are:
- Practice Hygiene: Contaminated surfaces, water, or food are the major causes of Viral Fever, and following healthy hygiene practices is advisable to keep you safe and minimize your risk.
What to do:
- Wash your hands often
- Use sanitizer (if outside and there is no hand wash facility around)
- Use clean water for drinking & food
- Prevent Exposure: Viral Fever vastly spreads through droplets of cough & sneeze of an infected individual or contact with bodily fluids.
What to do:
- Avoid close contact with sick individuals
- Keep your mouth and nose covered
- Maintain healthy distance
- Consider Routine Health Screening: Routine health checkups can make it easy to identify potential illnesses developing within your body while it is at its onset stage with no symptoms.
What to do:
- Take routine Full Body Checkups
- Consult a doctor to understand health & take preventive measures accordingly
- Adopt A Healthy Lifestyle: Your lifestyle choices can also influence your health, weaken your immunity and increase your risk of catching viral infections or Fever.
What to do:
- Eat a well-balanced diet
- Indulge some physical activity in your routine
- Quit smoking
- Limit the alcohol consumption
Remember, these general preventive measures can help you maintain your well-being and minimize your risks of Viral Fever. But you can still get it; vigilance will help you manage it better before complications strike.
Viral Fever Complications:
If we speak in general, Viral Fever is not serious or life-threatening, but if left undiagnosed or unaddressed, it can lead to some complications. If you are down with Fever, which is not breaking for 1-3 days, it is advisable to seek immediate medical assistance. Your healthcare provider may suggest a proper diagnosis or a diagnostic test, depending on your condition to evaluate your health better and provide appropriate treatment.
Conclusion:
Viral Fever is a common illness that can catch anyone in general, and managing it requires a little attention and extra effort. Prevention is the key to reducing the spread and your risk of contracting the Fever. Be proactive and follow all the advice your healthcare provider provides. Redcliffe Labs is your diagnostic partner that you can consider to book Viral Marker Rapid Test. The test aims to identify virus-specific antibodies or viral contagions in the blood to check the presence of viral infection, even before the symptoms appear. So, be alert and take charge of your health today.