Experience Chills and Fever: Understanding Causes, Remedies, and Beyond
Staying home when sick, practicing regular hand-washing, getting all recommended vaccines, avoiding people who are sick, wearing masks, and safe food preparation can help prevent infections that cause fevers. However, if you do develop a fever, it's essential to understand the symptoms and appropriate actions to take.
Fever with chills is a common combination of symptoms that typically indicates the body is fighting an infection or inflammation. Common associated symptoms include aches, headache, fatigue, sweating, and sometimes respiratory or gastrointestinal signs depending on the underlying cause.
Chills often occur alongside other signs such as high body temperature (typically above 100.4°F or 38°C), sweats, headache, muscle and joint pain, respiratory symptoms like cough, sore throat, and nasal congestion in viral infections, and gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea in some viral infections.
Common associated conditions with fever and chills include infections (viral, bacterial, parasitic), autoimmune diseases, cancer, low blood sugar, reactions to medications, menopause, and neurological conditions.
If you experience chills and fever that are severe, persistent, or accompanied by alarming symptoms like difficulty breathing or confusion, it's important to seek medical evaluation. In crowded areas where COVID-19 rates are high, wearing a mask indoors is recommended.
For minor infections, treating a fever is probably harmless. However, for more serious infections like COVID-19, treating a fever may suppress the body's natural immune response, potentially slowing recovery and increasing the risk of long-term complications.
If you have a chronic, unexplained fever or a fever after taking a new medication, it's advisable to contact a doctor. Drinking plenty of fluids can help prevent dehydration when treating a fever.
Over-the-counter anti-fever medications such as acetaminophen, aspirin, or ibuprofen can be used to treat a fever. However, never give aspirin to a child as it increases the risk of a rare but life-threatening condition called Reye's syndrome.
In newborns younger than 3 months old, a rectal temperature higher than 38°C (100.4°F) or an oral temperature above 37.5°C (99.5°F) warrants a doctor's visit.
When a person has a fever, they might experience symptoms such as shivering or chills, feeling very cold, feeling hot when the fever breaks or after taking fever medication, symptoms of illness like a cough, an earache, or muscle pain, intense exhaustion, vomiting, or diarrhea along with a fever.
In summary, recognizing and managing fever and chills involves understanding the common symptoms, associated conditions, and when to seek medical help. By taking the appropriate actions, you can help your body fight off infections and reduce the risk of complications.
- Chills and a fever may be indicative of underlying autoimmune diseases like ankylosing spondylitis or rheumatoid arthritis, or chronic diseases such as COPD, diabetes, or Alzheimer's.
- Fever symptoms can sometimes signal mental health conditions, such as depression or bipolar disorder, which may require therapies and treatments.
- In addition to respiratory conditions like flu or common cold, fever can be associated with digestive health issues like Crohn's disease or hepatitis.
- Eye health may be affected during a fever, causing conditions like conjunctivitis or dry eyes.
- Hearing problems like inner ear infections or tinnitus might also occur alongside a fever.
- With skin conditions such as eczema or psoriasis, a rise in body temperature can exacerbate symptoms.
- Fitness and exercise can help prevent many chronic diseases, including obesity and cardiovascular health issues.
- Science and technology have made advances in medical-conditions and chronic-disease treatment, including therapies for cancer, HIV, and Hepatitis.
- Maintaining workplace-wellness and proper hand-hygiene are critical to reducing the spread of infection in the office environment.
- Higher Body Mass Index (BMI) due to obesity can increase the risk of illnesses like type-2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
- Apart from infections, fever can also be a symptom of certain neurological disorders like multiple sclerosis or Parkinson's disease.
- CBD has been studied for potential benefits in managing symptoms of chronic diseases such as mental health, autoimmune disorders, and digestive health.
- A consistent skincare routine can help improve eye health, minimize the appearance of dark circles, and reduce the risk of skin conditions.
- A fever can lead to dehydration, so it's important to stay hydrated and drink water frequently.
- Over-the-counter antipyretic drugs like acetaminophen can help alleviate fever symptoms, but they should not be used in newborns under 3 months old.
- A persistent unexplained fever lasting longer than three days may be an indication of an underlying condition such as a serious infection, cancer, or a reaction to a medication.
- Managing chronic diseases and maintaining overall health and wellness may also include regular check-ups with a doctor, monitoring diet and nutrition, and managing stress through activities like meditation or yoga.
