A Detailed Guide on Viral Fever Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, and Complications 

The classic sign of viral fever is the wave of warmth, the bone ache, or the feeling of being hit by a truck that comes over you all of a sudden. It always feels like “that uninvited guest” that shows up at unexpected times. It is often caused by weather changes. Sometimes, it is even quite troublesome. But do you know what is happening in your body when you have a viral fever? If you do not know, then no problem. Let’s explore everything about viral fever symptoms, their types, how they are caused, and how we should treat them. 

What is Viral Fever?

Rather than consider a viral fever as an illness, it is best understood as an amazingly powerful alarm system inside your body that has been switched on. Once little viruses have gotten into your system, your immune system attacks them. Your body is smart enough to increase its temperature a little and make it that uncomfortable temperature where it is too hot for those pesky viruses to actually grow and love it. While it may make you miserable, the fever is an obvious sign that the inner defense force is working overtime to protect you. 

Viral Fever Causes 

Well, how does this unwed guest usually get in? Viral fevers are highly communicable and are spread in a few common ways. 

The most common cause of viral fever is air. It passes through the air. Maybe when an infected person sneezes or coughs. Their tiny drops containing the virus are released into the air, and the other person comes in contact. 

Not only air, but you may also be affected by touching. Whenever you touch something dirty, like a doorknob, a remote, or a bus handle, you may get infected with a virus. That is why it is important to wash your hands often. 

A mosquito bite is another cause of viral infection. Moreover, it may be transmitted through food or water. 

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Viral Fever Symptoms 

The symptoms of a viral fever may be subtle at the beginning, or they may happen all at once, sort of like an unwelcome storm. Apart from a high temperature as the main character, your body also has a whole chorus of other indications to alert you that you are in a battle. Consider it a painful “symptom party pack” that can contain:

1. Fever and Chills: This is the main symptom, as the name suggests. In a fever, your body naturally heats up and makes you ready to fight against the virus. Due to which your body starts shivering. 
2. Body Aches: You feel pain in your body like you have lifted something very heavy.  
3. Headache: Headache is also a common symptom, which may be constant, slow, or like a heartbeat. 
4. Extreme Fatigue: When you’re noticing that you feel drained of all your energy all the time and you don’t even have the energy to do the most basic tasks, your body is not so subtly asking you for a break.
5. Sore Throat and Cough: The Throat is often scratchy, painful, and irritated with a cough that is persistent and does not clear easily.
6. Runny or stuffy nose: Many times, it is like there’s a runny nose that has crashed the party and has made it quite difficult for you to breathe through your nose.
7. Upset Stomach: Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea has also been reported.
8. Watery or Red Eyes: The eyes are glassy in appearance, become red, and are more sensitive to light.

Keep in mind that you are unlikely to be experiencing all of these at once, and the combination of symptoms will even vary, depending on the particular virus that is calling on you. 

Viral Fever Types

It is helpful to think of “viral fever” as a generic term – just as it is helpful to think of “vehicles”: there are lots of different kinds, all of which have their own particulars. The virus that causes the flu is very different from the virus that will sicken you with dengue or the chicken pox. While they all come with a fever, they more often than not have other calling cards: rash or severe joint pain, for instance.

To simplify things, we can be divided based on how they spread and which part of your body they affect most:

• Respiratory Viral Fevers: These are the most common and usually infect your nose, throat, and lungs. In this category fall the classic cold and influenza, or flu.
• Mosquito-borne viral fevers: As the name itself indicates, it is transmitted through mosquito bites. The common ones are dengue and chikungunya, which typically show up with very high fever and severe body aches.
• Gastrointestinal viral fevers: These fevers affect your stomach and guts and result in such symptoms as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

As the viruses are different, you must be careful of the behaviour of each other. If you are feeling unwell, then you should see a doctor to get the proper treatment.   

Viral Fever Treatment

You will be happy to know that your body itself fights viral fever and just needs your little contribution. Antibiotics are not necessary for viruses. The treatment focuses on taking care of your viral fever symptoms and making your recovery as comfortable as possible.

Here are some ways to help your body win the fight.

1. Get Enough Sleep: This is Your Most Valuable Asset. Your immune system requires all your energy, so cancel your plans and allow yourself to rest.
2. Stay Hydrated: One needs to have an abundance of liquid consumption, like water, herbal tea, broths, fresh juice, etc. Especially in the case of fever, it is extremely important to rehydrate the fluids that the body loses in order to avoid dehydration.
3. Get the pain under control: Over-the-counter medications such as paracetamol or acetaminophen prove to be very useful in alleviating fever and easing the aches and pains of the body and the headache. These drugs should be taken only as prescribed by a doctor or in the dosage recommended on the package.
4. Eat Light and Right: Single and light digestible food is the way to go. Warm soup, khichdi, bananas, and toast are easy on your stomach and will give you the energy that you require.

In this, remember that most viral fevers run their course and eventually resolve themselves within seven days. What is important is to listen to what your body is saying and give it the simple care that it requires. 

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Complications of a Viral Fever 

Although most fevers of a viral nature are mild and uneventful, it is wise to be aware of when circumstances would suggest a need to call on the services of a medical practitioner. Sometimes, your body will control the aspect very well; other times, the battle can be extremely intense.

The following symptoms that require medical attention are to be on the lookout for:

• A very high body temperature, over 103°F, that does not go down with medicine
• Breathing difficulties may include shortness of breath.
• The body gets dehydrated and feels dizzy, lightheaded, and urinates little. 
• A fever that lasts longer and does not go within three or four days.
• Mental confusion, disorientation, or having a seizure
• You may vomit or have new rashes on the body.

In very uncommon circumstances, a severe virus may sometimes strain the liver or brain. It is easy to keep yourself safe from viral fever symptoms just by listening to your body and not hesitating to get professional care if your symptoms seem grave and unusual. 

Viral Fever Diagnosis

So, how does the doctor know that it is a viral fever? This is usually very easy to do. In most cases, a doctor will be able to diagnose the problem just by extensively discussing your symptoms and then examining you physically. The doctor will watch for such common symptoms of infection as a sore throat, listen to your chest, and examine your glands.

This first check-up is all that may be required. And, if things are not going right, then the doctor may suggest a blood test. This is not always necessary, but it helps to exclude other illnesses such as bacterial infections, dengue, or malaria. The test is usually able to tell how your body is reacting, which in turn can tell whether or not your body is fighting a virus.

In conclusion, sophisticated tests are not always necessary, but are an important tool available to your doctor to be sure of the cause to provide you with the best care. 

Conclusion 

Essentially, a viral fever is no more than your mighty body’s reaction against an unwanted viral guest. While it can cause wave after wave of unpleasant symptoms – such as fever, aches, and fatigue – the road to recovery is typically easy. You are assisting your body by providing it with the rest, the fluids, and the simple care that it so desperately needs, and by doing so, you are also encouraging the intrinsic healing process of the body. However, most people can get rid of viral fever symptoms in just one week. But if it is something serious, it is better to communicate with the doctor.  

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