How Long Does a Viral Fever Last? Symptoms and Treatment

Posted on: Jul 5, 2023 | 3 mins | Written by: HDFC ERGO Team

How Long Does a Viral Fever Last? Symptoms and Treatment

Being down with viral fever can be daunting. Viral fever symptoms may include extreme dehydration, persistent high fever, difficulty in breathing, severe headaches, neck stiffness, or a rash. Additionally, individuals with underlying health conditions, weakened immune systems, or those who are pregnant or elderly need to be particularly cautious. Since viral fevers typically resolve on their own, it’s common to be confused about their duration and when to seek medical help. Let’s explore the signs and symptoms of viral fever, the typical duration of the condition, and effective tips that can keep you safe from it.

Understanding viral fever

Viral fever is a group of viral infections that raise body temperature and cause mild to severe symptoms, including sore throat, weakness, fatigue, headache, and body pain. While anyone can get a viral fever, it is more common among children and adults with weak immune systems.

Some viral fevers are highly contagious, so they get transmitted from one person to another easily. If a healthy individual comes in contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person, he/she can get a viral infection. When an infected person yawns, talks, coughs, or sneezes, he/she may release tiny sprays of infected fluid from the body. If someone is standing close by, this infected fluid can enter the person’s body and cause viral infection and fever within 16 to 48 hours.

Some common viruses that trigger viral fever are —

1. Viruses causing common cold:

A common cold is a highly contagious viral infection that mostly causes mild symptoms, such as low-grade fever, runny nose, scratchy throat, sneezing, and watery eyes. Coming in close contact with an infected person or touching the face after touching a contaminated surface can cause a common cold.

2. Influenza or flu virus:

This highly contagious virus spreads through the airborne respiratory droplets of an infected person. Influenza causes severe respiratory symptoms, such as fever, sore throat, runny nose, dry, persistent cough, shortness of breath, and headache. Annual flu shots can help prevent the condition.

3. Dengue virus:

Dengue virus gets transmitted through mosquito bites. When the Aedes aegypti mosquito bites a person with dengue infection, it gets infected with the virus. When this infected mosquito bites a healthy person, it transmits the virus, thereby causing dengue fever. Some common symptoms of this life-threatening ailment are high fever, pain in the joints and muscles, headache, nausea, and vomiting.

4. Enteroviruses:

There are different types of enteroviruses, and most of them cause mild illnesses. These viruses mostly spread through the respiratory secretions and faeces of infected people. Thus, maintaining good hygiene and washing hands often with soap and water can help check their spread. Hand, foot and mouth disease, viral conjunctivitis, viral meningitis, inflammatory muscle disease, and summer flu are common examples of enterovirus infections.

Signs and symptoms of viral fever

The signs and symptoms of viral fever are:

• High fever

• Weakness and fatigue

• Dizziness

• Headache

• Body pain

• Cough

• Sore throat

• Painful tonsils

• Runny nose

• Nasal congestion

• Chest congestion

• Loss of appetite

• Skin rash

• Excessive sweating

• Diarrhoea

Managing viral fever

In addition to the antiviral medications prescribed by your doctor for viral fever treatment, here are some home remedies that you can try to help you feel better and energised:

• Take plenty of fluids like fresh juice, soups, broth, and coconut water to keep yourself hydrated.

• Drink coriander tea. Boil a glass of water with one tablespoon of coriander seeds. After it is cooled, strain the water, add little milk and sugar and consume it.

• Drink honey, lime and ginger juice. Make a concoction of honey, fresh lime juice and ginger juice and consume it 2-3 times a day.

• You can chew Tulsi leaves or make a concoction by boiling 20 fresh Tulsi leaves with 1 litre of water along with ½ teaspoon of clove powder. Boil the concoction till it gets reduced to half. Drink this every 2 hours.

• Moringa powder or capsules can help bring down the temperature.

• Eat light and healthy foods that can be digested easily.

• Gargle with salt water at least 3-4 times a day.

• Take proper rest and avoid strenuous activities. This will help in healing faster.

Prevention

The following are important viral fever prevention tips —

1. Boost immunity:

Look for ways to boost your immune function to stay safe from viral infections. Include nutritious foods in your diet and limit the intake of unhealthy processed foods and alcohol. Make it a point to include more vitamin C-rich foods in your diet, such as oranges, lemons, strawberries, kiwis, broccoli, brussels sprouts, and potatoes.

2. Boil milk and water:

Boiling milk for about 15 minutes can kill viruses and other microbes present in it. You must also drink boiled water to stay safe from viral infections.

3. Maintain good hand hygiene:

This is one of the most important preventive measures. Make sure you wash your hands often with soap and water, especially before cooking and eating meals. It is also wise to wash hands after touching common surfaces in public places. These surfaces may be contaminated with the virus, and touching your face with unwashed hands can cause viral infection. Thus, maintaining good hand hygiene can reduce the risk of viral fever.

4. Disinfect surfaces:

Disinfect commonly touched surfaces around the house, such as door knobs and latches. It is particularly important if a family member has viral fever. Cleaning surfaces with soap and water or using a disinfectant can help check the spread.

5. Practice social distancing:

This is particularly important during the monsoon when viral infections are common. You must also wear a mask in crowded places to stay safe from the condition. If a family member has a viral fever, avoid close contact with him/her. If you have to take care of the person, make sure you wear a mask and wash your hands often.

6. Stay safe from mosquito bites:

Some viral fevers, such as dengue and chikungunya, spread from the bites of infected mosquitoes. Thus, wear long, light-coloured clothing and use mosquito repellents and nets to stay safe from mosquito bites.

7. Get vaccinated:

Vaccination can help control and prevent viral infections and fever. Hence, talk to your doctor and get vaccinated against the condition.

Conclusion

Viral fever, by itself, is not an illness. It’s the symptom of an underlying viral infection. It’s not something to worry about because viral fever is generally not high-grade, and viral fever symptoms in adults and children typically subside in 3-4 days. However, if body temperature shoots up to more than 103°F (in the case of adults), 102°F (in children), and 100°F (in infants), you cannot take the matter lightly. You must see a doctor immediately to avoid any serious complications. In addition to viral fever treatment prescribed by your doctor, follow the Do’s and Don’ts of viral fever, and you will be up and running in a few days. Keep your health insurance up-to-date and handy in case of any emergency arising due to viral fever. Given the rising medical costs, health insurance and critical illness insurance are important investments for you and your loved ones.

FAQs

1. For how many days does the viral fever last?

A viral fever typically gets cured in 3 to 4 days. However, some people may experience certain symptoms for about 14 days or more. The duration of the condition mostly depends on the type of viral fever and immunity of an individual.

2. Do antibiotics work for viral fever?

Antibiotics are prescribed to treat some types of bacterial infections. Hence, they will not work if you have a viral fever.

3. How to stay safe from viral fever?

Most types of viral infections and fever occur when you come in close contact with an infected person or touch contaminated surfaces. Getting bitten by infected mosquitoes can also cause the condition. Hence, it is important to maintain good hygiene, wash hands often, and take necessary measures to stay safe from mosquito bites.

4. How is viral fever diagnosed?

Viral fever is diagnosed with a physical examination. Your doctor will check for common symptoms of the condition, such as fever, rapid heartbeat, sore throat, skin rash, and fatigue. He/she may also advise blood tests to diagnose viral infections like dengue and chikungunya.

5. What precautions should I take if I have a viral fever?

If you have a viral fever, you must include more fluids in your diet, rest well, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or handkerchief while coughing or sneezing, and consume a light and nutritious diet. You must take the prescribed medication and avoid strenuous and tiring activities.

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