Viral Fever

Last weekend, saya balik rumah mak coz my younger bro dah seminggu demam...dah 2 kali pergi test darah n resultnya mmg merisaukan...suspected dengue fever coz platlet makin turun n doc advice pergi hospital to do blood test for the 3rd times...so pagi semalam saya bawak my bro pergi hospital dan alhamdulillah, platlet dah naik...and it's confirmed now that it was not dengue fever but it's viral fever...

Source : viralfever.com

What is viral fever?

Viral fever refers to a broad spectrum of conditions where viral infections are associated with elevation of body temperature. In medical terms, any fever caused as a result of viral infection is a viral fever. These viral infections may show generalised symptoms, but may target specific organs. The course and duration of the fever does not follow any set pattern and is frequently accompanied by, though not always by all of them, generalised body ache, running nose, cough, shivering, skin rash and irritability. Viral infections may affect any age group, and are seen worldwide. They require only symptomatic treatment. Some are highly contagious. Most of them are not dangerous and are self-limited, but some can progress rapidly leading to death.

What are the symptoms of viral fever?

Once the virus enters the body, there is an incubation period when the virus multiplies to a level high enough to cause infection. This is followed by a phase of fatigue and body and muscle aches that may lead to the onset of fever. The fever may be low grade or high grade. Inflammation of the throat, a running nose, nasal congestion, headache, redness of the eyes, cough, muscle and joint pains and a skin rash could be present. Fatigue and body pain could be disproportionate to the level of fever, and lymph glands in the neck may swell up. The illness is usually self-limited but the fatigue and cough may persist for a few weeks. Sometimes pneumonia, vomiting and diarrhoea, jaundice or arthritis (joint swelling) may complicate the initial viral fever. Some viral fevers are spread by insects, for example, arbovirus, and can cause a bleeding tendency, which results in bleeding from the skin and several other internal organs and can be fatal.

How to treat viral fever?

• Take more rest
• Drink lots of water, fruit juices and clear soups. Fluids help loosen mucus and to prevent dehydration
• Antibiotics will not work against virus. So do not take antibiotics without a prescription
  

How to treat viral fever in children?

Your child seems to be suffering from viral infection which has lead to cough, cold and fever. In most viral infections, the fever subsides in about 3-5 days. The cold and cough may take a little longer. Though irritating and discomforting, this illness is relatively mild with no long lasting effects. Paracetamol/ brufen would help in controlling the fever. The effect usually lasts for about 4-6 hours if adequate dose is given. (For your child adequate dose of paracetamol is 150 mg, or 6 ml of pacimol syrup). Antibiotics are usually not needed for these infections and are unlikely to have an effect upon the course of illness. Make sure your child gets his antipyretic as required (whenever he has fever or at 4-6 hourly interval in case of regular fever), look after his nutrition making sure to offer him warm fluids like milk or whatever he likes to eat frequently, since a child's appetite is often suppressed during illness. If the fever persists beyond 6-7 days, or he develops additional symptoms like fast breathing/ difficulty in breathing, contact your pediatrician.

TTFN...