Viral Fever - Symptoms, Causes, Types, Prevention, Treatment

As seasons change, you must have noticed an outbreak of viral fever. The disease usually occurs in people with poor immunity and can lead to serious health conditions if left untreated. 
 

It is, therefore, crucial to know about viral flu symptoms and treatment, understand its causes and take preventive measures. 

What Is a Viral Fever?

Your normal body temperature is about 98.6°F (37°C). However, when your body gets infected by a virus or bacteria, its temperature rises, causing fever. This indicates that your body is fighting off foreign agents. 
 

The fever caused by a virus is known as viral fever. It is a frequent health condition that can lead to minor discomfort and serious disease.

What Causes Viral Fever?

Viruses are very small infectious agents that multiply rapidly once they invade your body. Some of the viral fever causes include:
 

• Ingestion

  You can expose yourself to the risk of viral infection fever by consuming food and drinks contaminated with viruses. Enterovirus and norovirus are some viral infections caused by ingestion. 

• Inhalation

  Viral infection fever is contagious. If someone suffering from a viral infection coughs or sneezes near you, you can catch the disease by inhaling the droplets. Viral infection caused by inhalation includes the common cold and flu. 

• Bites

  Bites of insects and animals carrying viruses can also cause viral infection. Some viral infections you can develop from insect or animal bites include dengue fever and rabies.

• Bodily fluids

  Exchanging bodily fluids with someone suffering from viral infections can also transmit the disease. Viral infections caused by bodily fluids include Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and hepatitis B.

What are the Symptoms of Viral Fever?

Fever is one of the most common viral fever symptoms. Depending on the underlying virus, the temperature of your body can reach 99°F (37°C) to 103°F (39°C). Some other signs of viral fever that can help you detect the disease early are:
 

• Rising and falling fever at regular intervals

• Dizziness

• Chills

• Fatigue 

• Muscle, joint, and body pain

• Headache

• Runny nose

• Inflammation of the pharynx

• Nasal congestion

• Pain in your tonsils

• Sore throat and cough

• Chest congestion

• Skin rashes

• Diarrhoea

• Burning sensation in your eyes

• Vomiting 

• Loss of appetite

• Sweating

Health Complications Related to Viral Fever 

Viral fever is commonly not considered a serious disease and usually subsides within three days. However, it can lead to some fatal health problems if you do not treat it on time. It is important to know the risks of viral fever and take the measures at the right time. The health complications related to the disease include: 
 

• Blood infection

• Coma

• Brain inflammation

• Respiratory fever

• Hallucinations

• Pneumonia

• Multiple organ failure

• Secondary bacterial infections 

• Laryngitis

• Kidney and liver failure

Types Of Viral Fever

Here’s a list of viral fever types:  
 

• Respiratory viral fever

  As the name implies, respiratory viral fever impacts the respiratory tract. The viral infections under this category include polio, flu, common cold, measles, viral bronchitis, adenovirus infection, rhinovirus, etc. 

• Viral enteritis

  This type of viral fever affects your digestive tract. It can further cause gastrointestinal viral fever, commonly called stomach flu. Viral fever types under this category include rotavirus, norovirus, adenovirus and astrovirus. 

• Neurologic viral fever

  Neurologic viral fever impacts the central nervous system. It can cause neurological illnesses like HIV, rabies, meningitis and encephalitis. Common symptoms of this type of viral fever include drowsiness, seizures, trouble coordinating, etc. 

• Exanthematous viral fever

  Exanthematous viral fever impacts the skin. It can cause prominent skin eruptions that can take a long time to heal. Common viral infections under this category are German measles, chickenpox, smallpox, chikungunya, Roseola, etc. 

• Hemorrhagic viral fever 

  Hemorrhagic viral fever is a fatal infection that causes internal bleeding. It can lead to a drastic rise in your body temperature. Some infections of this type include dengue, yellow fever, and Ebola.

Diagnosis of Viral Fever

To diagnose viral fever, the doctor has to first rule out bacterial infections. This is because viral and bacterial infections have similar symptoms. It is done by taking your samples to test for bacteria and considering your medical history and symptoms. Depending on your symptoms, your medical practitioner can ask you to test for dengue, malaria or chikungunya. 
 

If you have a severe infection, the doctor may also recommend imaging tests like a CT scan or chest X-ray. Some common ways to diagnose viral fever include blood tests, swab tests, antibody tests, urine tests, and specific viral antigen tests.

Viral Fever Treatment

In most cases, you do not require any specific treatment for a viral infection. This is because viruses do not respond to antibiotics like bacteria do. You can treat viral fever at home and relieve yourself from symptoms in the following ways: 
 

• Take over-the-counter fever reducers like ibuprofen and acetaminophen to reduce fever, pain, and inflammation. 

• Drink a lot of fluids to avoid dehydration.

• Take a bath in lukewarm water to regulate your body temperature. 

• Take plenty of rest.

• Keep checking your body temperature to know when to reach out to a doctor. 

• Take antiviral medications if required.

•  Apply a warm compress on your forehead to ease the headache.

• Take a balanced nutritious diet to boost your immune system's ability to fight against infection.
   

Note: It is crucial to seek medical attention if your fever does not subside after three days or increases to 100.4°F or 38°C (in infants), 102°F or 39°C (in children) and 103°F or 39°C (in adults).

Prevention of Viral Fever

Viral infection fever can be easily transmitted from one individual to another. It is better to take preventive measures to keep yourself and your loved ones safe. Some of the steps that can help you prevent viral fever include: 
 

• Always wash your hands with soap or hand wash before eating. You can use sanitiser if you do not find water.

• Avoid touching your mouth or nose with unclean hands.

• Keep your surrounding areas clean. Check for any stagnant water in your home, as this can become a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

• Use mosquito repellents to protect yourself from mosquito bites. 

• Make sure to take precautions when visiting or taking care of a sick individual. Try maintaining a distance. You can use a mask or gloves to stay safe.

• Boost your immunity by consuming healthy and nutritious food. 

• Get vaccinated against multiple viral infections.

Wrapping Up 

Most cases of viral fever are nothing to worry about. The fever usually goes down in three to four days. But if your fever reaches 103°F (39°C) or you witness unusual symptoms, it is essential to consult a doctor. 
 

Staying financially secure against viral infections and other health issues is equally important, especially when medical inflation is crossing the roof. 
 

You can choose from a range of health insurance products to secure your loved ones and yourself. Standalone comprehensive health insurance plans and certain health riders with life insurance plans can serve as protective shields in times of distress.