Viral fever: symptoms, diagnosis, and ways to prevent

Viral fever is a term given to all types of fevers that result due to a viral infection in the body. It is common in people with low immunity, such as children and senior citizens. Some of the common viral fever symptoms are high fever, body ache, nausea, weakness, headache, and burning sensation in the eyes. Usually, people self-medicate to treat viral fever and recover within 3 to 5 days of the illness.

Types of Viral Fever

Now, that you know what is viral fever. Here it is time to understand the different types of viral fever.

There are mainly five types of viral fever that are:

1. Respiratory Viral Fever

The most common type of viral fever is due to an impact on the respiratory tract. Some common infections due to this viral fever are Common Cold, Flu, Rhinovirus, Polio, Measles, Coryza, Laryngitis, and Viral Bronchitis. 

2. Hemorrhagic Viral Fever

 This is a life-threatening viral fever caused by a hemorrhagic virus. Some of the viral fevers belonging to this type of viral infection are Ebola, Yellow Fever, and Dengue. 

3. Exanthematous Viral Fever

This is a viral fever wherein the skin gets infected too due to the exanthematous virus. Some of the viral fevers caused due to this infection are Roseola, Chickenpox, Measles, and Rubella or German Measles. 

4. Viral Enteritis

In this type of viral infection, your digestive tract gets affected and it may lead to Gastroenteritis. Other infections due to this viral infection are Norovirus infection, Rotavirus infection, Adenovirus infection, and Astrovirus infection. 

5. Neurologic Viral Fever

In this viral fever, a neurotropic virus affects the central nervous system. Some of the viral fevers due to this infection are HIV, Rabies, Meningitis, and Encephalitis. 

Causes of Viral Fever

Viral fever takes place when your body’s immune system is trying to fight foreign pathogens like bacteria and viruses. Some of the common causes of viral fever are:

1. Mosquito Bites

One prime reason for viral fever is getting a mosquito bite. Viral fever is always on a rise during the monsoon season when mosquitoes are seen breeding at a rapid speed. It is the season of malaria, dengue, and viral fever. 

 2. Inhalation of Air Droplets

 You can easily catch viral fever if an infected person around you sneezes or coughs around you without covering his or her face. You will inhale the infected air droplets and fall prey to viral fever. This is the most common scenario in COVID-19 infection, wherein we are recommended to wear face masks. 

 3. Ingestion of Food Products

Consuming food products contaminated with the virus may cause viral fever. 

 4. Exchange of Body Fluids

 One may experience symptoms of viral fever also when some body fluids are exchanged with an infected person. Not just viral, one may also suffer from HIV and Hepatitis B diseases due to blood transfusion from an infected person. 

Viral Fever Symptoms

Some of the common viral infection symptoms are:

• Headache
• Soaring Body Temperature
• Sore Throat
• Fatigue
• Runny Nose
• Dehydration
• Face Swelling
• Skin Rashes
• Loss of Appetite
• Frequent Chills
• Red Eyes

Viral Fever Diagnosis

People often get confused between viral and bacterial infections. In most cases, a bacterial infection fever occurs as a result of viral fever. To diagnose a viral fever, your doctor may try these methods:

1. Inquire about Your Viral Fever Symptoms

The doctor may ask for your symptoms and the time from which you are suffering those symptoms. 

2. Diagnostic Tests

 You may be asked to get some diagnostic tests like blood tests, urine tests, swab tests, and specific antibody tests or viral antigen tests. 

3. Blood Count Tests

 Those suffering from Malaria, Dengue, Chikungunya, and Typhoid may also be asked to get a blood count testing. 

4. CT Scan or Chest X-Ray

Your doctor may also ask for a CT scan or Chest X-Ray in case of a very severe viral infection. 

Viral Fever Treatment

Viral fever is a common ailment that anyone can suffer irrespective of age, gender, and location. This fever doesn’t require any particular treatment. Most of the time the doctor may prescribe the following treatment for viral fever:

1. Over-The-Counter Medicines

The most common viral fever treatment is taking over-the-counter medicines like ibuprofen, paracetamol, and acetaminophen.

2. Antibiotics for Viral Fever

If over-the-counter medications don’t offer any relief from your viral fever symptoms, you will be prescribed antibiotics for the same. Although there are no antibiotics to treat viral fever, your doctor may prescribe Azithromycin to combat common viral fever symptoms like runny nose, sore throat, and chest congestion. 

3. Plenty of Rest

Your doctor may also prescribe you take plenty of rest to recover from the symptoms of viral fever along with the right medication. 

4. Drinking Plenty of Fluids

Likewise, if you are suffering from viral fever, make sure to drink lots of fluids. Try to stay hydrated to get over the viral infection and weakness associated with it.

The Bottom Line

There is nothing wrong if you get a viral infection or fever. One tends to suffer from fever when the body is trying to fight invading pathogens. Whenever you suffer from viral fever, make sure to control your body temperature by the treatment options explained in this article. If the condition worsens, do consult a doctor or get admitted to a hospital.