Symptoms, Diagnosis, & Treatment

The majority of people infected with yellow fever virus will either not have symptoms, or have mild symptoms and completely recover.

For people who develop symptoms, the time from infection until illness is typically 3 to 6 days.

Because there is a risk of severe disease, all people who develop symptoms of yellow fever after traveling to or living in an area at risk for the virus should see their healthcare provider. Once you have been infected, you are likely to be protected from future infections.

Symptoms

• Most people will not have symptoms.
• Some people will develop yellow fever illness with initial symptoms including:
  • Sudden onset of fever
  • Chills
  • Severe headache
  • Back pain
  • General body aches
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Fatigue (feeling tired)
  • Weakness
  • Most people with the initial symptoms improve within one week.
  • For some people who recover, weakness and fatigue (feeling tired) might last several months.
• A few people will develop a more severe form of the disease.
  • For 1 out of 7 people who have the initial symptoms, there will be a brief remission (a time you feel better) that may last only a few hours or for a day, followed by a more severe form of the disease.
• Severe symptoms include:
  • High fever
  • Yellow skin (jaundice)
  • Bleeding
  • Shock
  • Organ failure
• Severe yellow fever disease can be deadly. If you develop any of these symptoms, see a healthcare provider immediately.
• Among those who develop severe disease, 30-60% die.

Diagnosis

• Yellow fever infection is diagnosed based on laboratory testing, a person’s symptoms, and travel history.
• More information on diagnostic testing is available on the For Healthcare Providers page.

Treatment

• There is no medicine to treat or cure infection from yellow fever.
• Rest, drink fluids, and use pain relievers and medication to reduce fever and relieve aching.
• Avoid certain medications, such as aspirin or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, for example ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), or naproxen (Aleve), which may increase the risk of bleeding.
• People with severe symptoms of yellow fever infection should be hospitalized for close observation and supportive care.
• If after returning from travel you have symptoms of yellow fever (usually about a week after being bitten by an infected mosquito), protect yourself from mosquito bites for up to 5 days after symptoms begin. This will help prevent spreading yellow fever to uninfected mosquitoes that can spread the virus to other people.

Why Am I Shivering or Sweating at Night?

Temperature is an important part of circadian rhythm. Our body temperature undergoes a daily cycle that correlates with sleep-wake patterns. We experience a natural reduction in core body temperature  during the hours leading up to bedtime, and this continues after we fall asleep. At the same time, skin temperature increases before and during sleep. Throughout the night, our bodies engage in thermoregulation, which involves physical processes that maintain our body temperature within a narrow range. If we are too cold, shivering helps to warm us up. If we are too warm, sweating releases heat.

Sometimes, the balance between hot and cold is thrown off to the point where these thermoregulation processes cause us to wake up. Waking up shivering cold or hot and sweaty is never a comfortable experience. This can happen due to the sleep environment being too cold or too warm.

However, shivering and sweating are sometimes unrelated to thermoregulation; instead, they may be the result of another underlying cause.

Causes of Shivering at Night

If the temperature in your bedroom is too cold, or if you aren’t covered by enough clothing or blankets, you may wake up shivering during the night. Other possible causes include:

• Infection: Fevers are the consequence of an immune system reaction to an infection, including bacterial and viral infections. Chills are often associated with fever, and are due to muscle contraction and relaxation, which raises the body’s core temperature.
• Menopause: Menopause is when a woman stops menstruating permanently. The transition to menopause involves hormonal changes that often cause symptoms, including cold chills, which may happen on their own or may occur after a hot flash.
• General anesthesia: General anesthesia is used to put patients to sleep during surgery so that they do not feel pain. Shivers after general anesthesia have been reported in anywhere from 20 to 70% of patients, and are often due to low body temperature.
• Drug withdrawal: Withdrawal symptoms can occur when stopping or reducing use of a drug. Cold flashes with goosebumps are a possible symptom of prescription opioid withdrawal.

Causes of Sweating at Night

Sleeping in a bedroom that is too warm, wearing too many layers, or covering yourself with too much bedding can cause you to sweat at night. There are a number of other potential causes of night sweats:

• Infection: Bacterial and viral infections often cause fevers, and sweating frequently occurs with a fever.
• Menopause: The most common symptom of menopause is hot flashes, which can occur at night and cause night sweats. In the premenopausal state, hormonal fluctuations during certain periods of the menstrual cycle can also lead to night sweats.
• Medications: Some drugs increase sweating as a side effect, including certain antidepressants, opioids, and cancer treatment drugs. Also, withdrawal from drugs, such as opioids, can cause sweating.
• Obstructive sleep apnea: A research study found that up to one-third of individuals with obstructive sleep apnea experience frequent night sweats. An association between other sleep-related disorders (such as RLS) and night sweats has also been suggested.
• Alcohol: Higher alcohol use has been correlated with night and day sweating. Additionally, sweating is a known symptom of alcohol withdrawal.
• Anxiety: Research suggests that panic attacks may be associated with night sweats.

Other causes of night sweats include cancer, acid reflux, hyperthyroidism obesity, low blood sugar, and other infections, such as tuberculosis and HIV.

How To Stop or Reduce Shivering and Sweating While Asleep

For people who have a known cause of their nighttime shivering or sweating, the treatment should focus on the underlying condition. If you are unsure of the cause of your nighttime shivers or sweats, try taking the following steps to see if they help.

• Adjust your bedroom temperature: Evidence suggests that the optimal room temperature for sleep is around 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Each person’s temperature needs are different, though, so it could help to see whether increasing or decreasing the temperature of your room helps relieve your nighttime shivering or sweating. Also consider your mattress and bedding which can impact body temperature throughout the night.
• Experiment with layers: If you are shivering at night, try adding more layers of clothing, including socks, or blankets. If you are sweating, remove layers and wear loose, breathable clothing to bed.
• Use a fan or heat pack: Placing a fan in your bedroom can help cool you off, while bringing a hot water bottle or heating pad with you to bed can keep you warm.
• Check for fever: Take your temperature, and if you find that you have a fever, you may have an infection. Drink fluids and rest at home. A sponge bath with lukewarm water may help relieve fever symptoms. Fever-reducing medications are also available over the counter.

Is This Dangerous? When Should You See a Doctor?

In most cases, nighttime shivering or sweating is not dangerous and is not cause for alarm. If your symptoms occur often or do not resolve with changes in your bedroom temperature and bedding, it’s a good idea to speak with your doctor. Your doctor will collect information from you about the frequency and severity of your shivering or sweating, along with other related symptoms. Your doctor may also recommend diagnostic testing to diagnose or rule out an underlying condition.

If you have chills and night sweats due to a fever, make sure to speak with a doctor if your temperature reaches 103 degrees Fahrenheit, if you have a fever lasting longer than three  days, or the fever is associated with symptoms such as headache, stiff neck, chest pain, rash, or severe throat swelling.

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14 Reasons You Have Chills

Why are you having chills?

Chills can be uncomfortable. You may be wrapped in the heaviest down blanket, but still unable to get warm. You may feel cold and clammy, or you may be sweating with a fever and feeling overheated.

Chills, or shivering, can happen one time or they can be frequent. They can last a few seconds or as long as an hour. Sometimes chills can cause noticeable shaking movements; other times visible symptoms are minimal—you may just feel chilled to the bone.

Chills are your body’s attempt to raise your internal body temperature if you’re cold or sick. When your muscles involuntarily contract and relax, it generates heat. If you’re sick, chills can create more heat to help kill a virus or bacteria.

Chills can also be caused by menopause, low blood sugar levels, or when you’re experiencing profound emotions like shock, fear, or anxiety.

Extreme exertion—such as running a marathon—can also cause chills as your body tries to regulate temperature to avoid overheating.

2. Influenza (flu)

Symptoms

• Fever
• Cough
• Congestion
• Chills
• Headache
• Body aches
• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea (especially in young children)

The flu is an infection of the respiratory tract (your lungs, nose, and mouth) caused by the influenza virus. There are different types of flu viruses. The reason you need to get a flu shot every year is because the version it protects against changes.

Most people who get the flu recover in a few days. Sometimes, it develops into pneumonia, which can be life-threatening, especially for the elderly or people with compromised immune systems.

If you are at risk of severe flu symptoms, see your doctor right away or go to urgent care. They may prescribe an antiviral medication. It can reduce how many days you are sick and the risk of complications.

Treating the flu is about taking care of your symptoms. You can take over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Get plenty of rest and drink lots of fluids.

It’s important to see a doctor if symptoms don’t get better or your fever lasts for more than 3 to 5 days.

Sometimes patients tell me that they feel “silly” about bringing up questions about their chills. We are always here to help patients and hear their concerns. You mentioning your chills could be a vital step in first alerting us that something may be wrong with your health. —Dr. Petrina Craine

3.

Pneumonia

Symptoms

• Fever
• Chills
• Cough (which may also produce mucus/phlegm)
• Trouble breathing or increased breathing rate
• Fatigue
• Chest pain
• Nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and diarrhea (especially in younger children)
• Confusion (especially in the elderly)

Pneumonia is an infection in your lungs that is usually caused by viruses and bacteria. The infection irritates the air sacs, filling them with pus and other fluids. Colds, bronchitis, influenza, and other respiratory infections can become pneumonia as bacteria settles into your lungs.

Pneumonia can be life-threatening, especially to the elderly or people with compromised immune systems.

Pneumonia is often diagnosed with a chest x-ray. Pneumonia caused by bacteria can be treated with antibiotics and many people can continue taking the medication as they recover at home.

You may have to be admitted to the hospital if you have low oxygen levels, severe dehydration, or other complications.

4. COVID-19

Symptoms

• Fever
• Loss of taste or smell
• Cough or congestion, which may produce mucus
• Runny nose
• Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
• Chest pain
• Fatigue
• Body aches
• Chills
• Headache
• Low oxygen levels on a pulse oximeter (oxygen measuring device)

COVID-19 is a highly contagious virus caused by a coronavirus, specifically the SARS-CoV-19. This virus infects the respiratory tract (including your nose, throat, sinuses, and lungs). Although it is a respiratory infection, it can also affect other organs including the brain, blood vessels, and the skin.

Symptoms are very similar to those seen in the flu and the common cold. Sometimes, cases of COVID-19 that begin with mild symptoms worsen and become life-threatening. COVID-19 is very contagious, even when people don’t have symptoms.

Rest and hydration can be important in treating symptoms and feeling better for people with mild cases of COVID-19. If you suspect COVID-19, monitor your symptoms and speak with your doctor about your condition.

They will give you additional at-home treatment plans. These may include over-the-counter medication, oxygen-monitoring devices, or prescription medication, like an inhaler. They can also advise you when to go to the hospital if your symptoms get worse.

5. Sinusitis

Symptoms

• Fever
• Runny nose
• Congestion
• Chills
• Facial pain or pressure
• Headache
• Cough that may produce mucus
• Foul-smelling breath or taste in mouth

The sinuses normally produce thin mucus to help trap foreign materials. When infected with viruses or bacteria, this fluid often increases and gets thicker—causing blockages. The infection affects the small air pockets in your forehead, nose, cheekbones, and in between your eyes. This is called sinusitis. Most sinus infections are caused by viruses, so antibiotics won’t help treat symptoms. If your symptoms last longer than 10 days or get worse after 5 to 7 days, you may have a bacterial infection. Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics. 

Over-the-counter decongestants (such as pseudoephedrine) should be used with care. Taking beyond 3 days may lead to an increased risk of the congestion coming back. It can sometimes be even worse than before. Watch your symptoms. Hydrate (liquids like water and tea) to help relieve pressure.

6. Strep throat

Symptoms

• Fever
• Sore throat
• Painful swallowing
• Tender lymph nodes
• Swollen, red tonsils
• Chills

Strep throat is a throat infection caused by a bacteria called group A Streptococcus. Strep throat is contagious and more common in children than adults. A main symptom is a very sore throat that can make eating, talking, or swallowing difficult. Sometimes, you get strep throat with a rash that looks like sandpaper—this rash is known as scarlet fever.

Strep throat is diagnosed with a test. It is treated with antibiotics. If not treated, strep can turn into a more serious illness such as rheumatic fever. Antibiotics may make you feel better within a few days, but you must take the antibiotics for the full amount prescribed.

Not all chills are necessarily negative. Some happen after deeply positive emotions, like after experiencing inspiring or moving music. This reaction is called “frisson.” —Dr. Craine

7. Urinary tract infection (UTI)

Symptoms

A urinary tract infection is an infection of your urinary tract that can affect the bladder, the urethra (the tube you urinate through), or the kidneys, which filter urine. This infection is commonly caused by bacteria but can also be caused by other germs like fungi. Pregnant women are prone to UTIs.

Most people who experience chills from a UTI have an upper urinary tract infection. This is a sign that your kidneys and ureters (inner tube that passes urine from the kidneys to the bladder) are infected.

A UTI is diagnosed with a urine sample and can be treated with antibiotics. If not treated, a UTI can become very serious and infect your kidneys (pyelonephritis) and your bloodstream.

8. Common cold

Symptoms

• Runny nose
• Cough and congestion
• Low fever
• Chills and body aches (usually mild)
• Fatigue

A common cold is a viral infection of the respiratory tract (usually just your nose and mouth). Many types of viruses can cause it, but rhinoviruses are a common culprit.

Most people with the cold do not have severe symptoms and get better without complications. Over-the-counter medications, such as decongestants (such as pseudoepinephrine) and natural foods like honey (in ages 2 and older), may relieve symptoms like congestion, cough, and sore throat. Resting and staying hydrated can also help you feel better.

9. Medication side effect

Symptoms

• Chills
• Recently taking or changing medications

Recovering from anesthesia after a surgery can sometimes cause chills. This is from anesthetics affecting body temperature regulation, the cool temperature of operating rooms, and your body cooling down while under anesthesia.

Abruptly stopping certain medications or substances, such as benzodiazepines, alcohol (in a person who drinks large amounts of it daily), or opioids like heroin or oxycodone (in a person dependent on them) can cause chills.

Let your doctor know if you’re experiencing chills as a reaction to a new medication or if you’re withdrawing from a medication or substance.

10. Hypothyroidism

Symptoms

Hypothyroidism is a condition in which your thyroid is underactive. Thyroid hormones are involved in various body processes, a key one being metabolism. Low thyroid hormone levels increase your sensitivity to temperature changes and make you more likely to feel chilled.

Hypothyroidism can be caused by various conditions such as your immune system attacking your thyroid or a nutritional deficiency in iodine (an important mineral for thyroid hormone production).

Diagnosis is made with a blood test. Medications can be used to manage hypothyroidism.

11. Cancer

Symptoms

• Fever that comes and goes
• Unexplained weight loss
• Easily bruised skin
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Chills
• Fatigue

Cancer can be associated with a persistent low-grade fever, as well as chills. This is especially true for certain blood cancers like leukemia, lymphoma, or myeloma.

See your doctor If a fever doesn’t break or you have a continual low-grade fever or a low-grade fever that seems to come and go. You may also notice other symptoms, such as unexplained weight loss, swollen lymph glands, or fatigue. Blood cancers may also cause symptoms that include easily bruised skin or bleeding gums.

Tests can be used to diagnose cancer. Treatment depends on the type of cancer and how far it has progressed. Treatment may include chemotherapy, radiation, and/or surgery.

12. Autoimmune disease

Symptoms:

• Fatigue
• Swollen glands
• Joint pain
• Chills
• Digestive issues
• Skin or hair changes

Chills are often a symptom of various autoimmune diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. Of those suffering from an autoimmune disease, nearly 80% are women. The reasons for this are not entirely clear, but hormonal changes (e.g. with estrogen and progesterone) and variations in sex chromosomes are thought to contribute to the large amount of women over men with autoimmune disorders.

Autoimmune disorders can have a range of symptoms and can be complicated to diagnose. Often, diagnosis is made by ruling out other causes. Treatment can include symptom management, medication, and immunotherapy.

13. Menopause

Symptoms:

Menopause is a period in a woman’s life in which her menstrual cycle ceases. It usually occurs between the ages of 45 and 55. Women experience significant changes in hormones, which can affect their body’s temperature regulation. It typically can cause “hot flashes,” but it can also cause chills. Chills can occur after a woman is “cooling down” after a hot flash or in place of hot flashes, a phenomenon known as  “cold flashes.”

Your doctor may recommend blood tests to test hormone levels. Treatment can include symptom management with medications, including hormone-replacement therapy.

14. Anemia

Symptoms

• Fatigue
• Headache
• Feeling cold or chills
• Lightheadedness or dizziness
• Palpitations (irregular, rapid, or particularly strong  heartbeat)
• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath

Anemia occurs when your body doesn’t have enough red blood cells to carry oxygen to your tissues. This affects nearly every process in the body, including temperature regulation. There are different causes of anemia, including problems with iron (e.g., losing blood from colon cancer or heavy menstrual cycles). Anemia is more common in women than men, and can be a particular problem for pregnant women due to increased nutritional needs during pregnancy.

A doctor may recommend iron supplements.

Sometimes patients look for goosebumps—when the hair on your body sticks up on skin—when they feel chills. They are not the same. Goosebumps can happen with chills, like if you are outside in the cold or if you are having a strong emotional reaction. But they are not always present with chills, such as chills with fever. —Dr. Craine

Other possible causes

A number of conditions may also cause chills, though these are either rare or chills are not the defining symptom. These include extreme sunburn (rare), malaria, and tuberculosis.

Should I go to the ER for chills?

You should go to the emergency department if you have any of these signs:

Those with weakened immune systems (e.g., elderly adults, babies, people with cancer, people on medications that suppress the immune system, people with chronic conditions like diabetes, kidney failure, etc.) should visit an emergency room as chills could be a sign of a severe infection brewing.

When to See Your Doctor for headaches

By Todd J. Schwedt, MD, FAHS

Although painful and often disabling, the vast majority of headaches are not due to worrisome underlying problems. However, the presence of certain symptoms suggests the need to be evaluated by your doctor. These headache “red flags” include:

1. Thunderclap Headache: very severe headache that reaches its maximum severity immediately (within a couple of minutes). Thunderclap headaches require emergent medical evaluation.
2. Positional Headache: headache that substantially changes in intensity in association with changes in position – e.g. standing from lying or vice-versa.
3. Headaches Initiated by Exertion: headache starting while coughing, sneezing, and/or straining.
4. New Headaches: especially if older than 50 years of age, or if there are medical conditions that make worrisome headaches more likely (e.g. cancer, blood clotting disorder).
5. Substantial Change in Headache Pattern: significant increase in headache frequency or significant change in headache characteristics
6. Constant Headache Always in the Same Location of the Head
7. Worrisome Neurologic Symptoms: about 1/3 of people with migraine have neurologic symptoms (“migraine aura”) that typically precede onset of a migraine headache. Commonly, aura symptoms consist of slowly spreading visual symptoms sometimes accompanied by tingling of the face and upper extremity. These symptoms resolve within 60 minutes. If these symptoms have immediate onset (as opposed to a slow progression of symptoms), last longer than 60 minutes, or do not completely resolve, medical attention is required. Medical attention is also required if other symptoms are present, such as weakness of one side of the body, change in level of consciousness, significant difficulty walking, or other symptoms that worry you.
8. Headache that never goes away
9. Systemic symptoms: including fever, chills, weight loss, night sweats

If any of these headache “red flags” are present, your doctor will want to evaluate you by asking questions about your headaches and general health, and by performing physical and neurologic examinations. Based upon these assessments, your doctor will be able to determine if further tests are needed.

Todd J. Schwedt, MD, FAHS, Professor of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, AZ.

Chills – Symptoms, Causes, Treatments

Having chills refers to feeling excessively cold, even when you are wearing warm clothing or are wrapped in blankets. When you have the chills, you may also be shivering or look pale.

Chills are often related to fever, an increase in body temperature above normal (98.6 degrees Fahrenheit). Fever is a sign of inflammation or infection in the body.

Part of your body’s response to infection is to create a fever by raising body temperature. Chills are caused by rapid contraction and relaxation of the muscles to increase body temperature. A fever can help to kill infectious pathogens or prevent their spread because most pathogens that cause infection survive best at a normal body temperature.

Chills and fever can be caused by fairly benign conditions, such as a cold, or by serious conditions, such as influenza, malaria or meningitis. Chills and fever are more common in children than adults because even minor illnesses produce a fever in children. Children also tend to get higher fevers than adults.

Exposure to cold temperatures and a low body temperature (hypothermia, a body temperature at or below 95 degrees) can also cause chills as muscles contract and relax to warm the body. Autoimmune and inflammatory disorders, as well as some cancers, can also cause a fever and chills.

Chills can be a symptom of a serious or life-threatening infection or hypothermia.
Seek prompt medical care or talk with a medical professional about your symptoms if they persist more than two days or if they cause you concern.

Fever in infants and very young children can quickly become serious. Infants do not usually develop chills, but
seek prompt medical care for a fever in a child less than one year old.
Seek immediate medical care (call 911) if you, or someone you are with, have been exposed to cold temperatures or cold water or have other symptoms, such as lethargy, difficulty breathing, stiff neck, or confusion.

Fever and Headache: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Headaches are common and usually nothing to worry about. But if you have a fever in addition to a headache, please see your healthcare provider for a proper diagnosis. The combination of a fever and a headache may be a sign of a serious infection.

A headache and fever may be a sign of an infection that is localized to your brain and/or spinal cord, which forms your central nervous system. Specific examples of central nervous system infections include meningitis, encephalitis, or brain abscess.

Systemic or whole-body infections, such as the flu or early HIV symptoms, may also cause a headache and fever, as can less common conditions like a bleed or a tumor in the brain.

This all being said, sometimes a headache and fever are signs of a run-of-the-mill viral infection that simply needs to run its course. Here we will explore both infectious and non-infectious causes of a headache and fever.

As an aside, it’s important to note that while knowledge can be empowering, it can be tricky and subtle distinguishing what is serious and what is not—so be sure to get your headache and fever checked out by a doctor.

Verywell / Joshua Seong

Meningitis

In addition to a severe, generalized headache and a high fever, symptoms of meningitis may include neck stiffness, nausea, vomiting, confusion, rash, and/or a sensitivity to light. That being said, a person typically will not have all of these symptoms, and that is why a doctor’s examination is critical.

In the majority of people with meningitis, nuchal rigidity will be present. Nuchal rigidity means that a person can’t flex their neck, so they’re unable to touch their chin to their chest.

Other potential symptoms of meningitis include rash, joint pains, seizures, or other neurological deficits.

In order to make the diagnosis, a person with suspected meningitis will undergo a lumbar puncture, also known as a spinal tap. During a lumbar puncture, the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is analyzed to determine whether an infection is present and if so, what type of infection.

In addition, a person with suspected meningitis will also usually undergo laboratory studies, including blood cultures and a white blood cell count (white blood cells are infection-fighting cells in the body). A treatment plan will usually follow. There is also a popular meningitis vaccine for prevention.

Encephalitis

Encephalitis is an infection of the central nervous system that may be caused by a virus, bacteria, or fungus. Encephalitis is similar to meningitis, but a key difference is that encephalitis causes people to have abnormalities in brain function.

This means that a person will have an impaired mental status or have movement or sensory problems, even paralysis (whereas this is generally not the case in meningitis). Because the two can be so difficult to differentiate, doctors sometimes use the term “meningoencephalitis. ”

Brain Abscess

A brain abscess is a rare, but potentially life-threatening condition, in which infected fluid collects in the brain. Symptoms of a brain abscess can resemble that of meningitis or encephalitis and include fever, headache, neck stiffness, neurological dysfunction, and confusion.

A headache from a brain abscess and the confusion occur as a result of the elevated intracranial pressure due to the infected fluid collection in the brain, as it continues to grow and take up space.

Diagnosis of a brain abscess is confirmed with computerized tomography (CT) scans of the brain, which classically shows a ring-enhancing lesion.

Patients are treated with antibiotics given through the vein and sometimes surgical drainage of the abscess. Clearing of the infection is documented, usually through serial CT scans, and can take weeks to months.

Sinus Infection

A sinus headache and fever, in addition to a variety of other possible symptoms, like facial tenderness or swelling, ear pain, tooth pain, and thick nasal discharge may indicate a bacterial sinus infection.

The good news is that if you have bacterial sinusitis, a week or so of antibiotics, rest, fluids, and steam should clear it up quickly. Very rarely sinus infections lead to other complications like a brain abscess, meningitis, blood clot, or osteomyelitis—an infection of the facial bones (especially the forehead).

If you are diagnosed with a sinus infection, be sure to follow up with your healthcare provider if your fever persists while taking antibiotics.

Whole-Body Infections

A systemic or whole-body infection, such as influenza, commonly known as “the flu,” or infectious mononucleosis, often referred to as “kissing disease,” or mono, can cause fever and headache, as can a number of other systemic infections like HIV or AIDS.

Usually, there are other clues that help doctors confirm a systemic infection. For example, if you have the flu, you will typically have body aches and a cough, in addition to a headache and fever. If you have mono, you will have a sore throat and test positive on the monospot test, a rapid test used to diagnose infectious mononucleosis.

Finally, it’s important to understand that other symptoms besides fever can occur with a systemic infection, like weight loss, night sweats, and/or generalized fatigue or malaise.

Non-Infectious Causes

Besides infections, other illnesses may cause a headache and fever and affect the whole body. These include a number of rheumatic diseases like:

There are also rare, but very serious, causes of a headache and fever, like subarachnoid hemorrhage, pituitary apoplexy, or a brain tumor.

For example, a subarachnoid hemorrhage (which causes bleeding in the brain) may cause a thunderclap headache—an abrupt, severe headache “like a clap of thunder.” Classically, the headache of a subarachnoid hemorrhage is sudden, explosive, one-sided, and associated with nausea, vomiting, mental status changes, and neck stiffness. Sometimes a fever can also occur.

Of course, there are medical conditions that mimic a thunderclap headache. That said, only a healthcare provider can make this determination after evaluating you and ordering necessary brain imaging.

A thunderclap headache can represent a serious, life-threatening medical condition, so get help right away by either calling 911 or going to your nearest emergency room.

A Word From Verywell

While it may just be that you have a mild illness and need fluids and a fever-reducing medication for your headache and fever, it’s important to be safe and get it evaluated by a doctor. Fever and headache can be a potentially serious combination, so err on the side of caution and get it checked out.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What causes headache and fever?

  Several conditions can present with a headache and fever. These include: 

  • Brain abscess (rare)
  • Brain tumor (rare)
  • Encephalitis
  • Giant cell arteritis
  • HIV
  • Influenza
  • Meningitis 
  • Mononucleosis
  • Lupus
  • Osteomyelitis
  • Pituitary apoplexy (rare)
  • Sinus infection
  • Sarcoidosis
  • Subarachnoid hemorrhage (rare)

• Can migraines cause fevers?

  Migraines do not typically cause fevers. It is not impossible to have a fever with a migraine, but it is rare. 

• When should I see a doctor for headache and fever?

  A headache and a fever may be a symptom of a more serious condition. If you have a headache and fever, call your doctor to see if you should be seen. If the headache is severe, the fever is high, or it is after hours and fever-reducing and headache medicines fail to bring relief, go to the emergency room.

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Chills, headache, loss of taste among symptoms added to CDC’s list for COVID-19

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has expanded the number of symptoms on its official list for COVID-19.

Previously, the CDC had cited fever, cough and shortness of breath as possible signs of the illness. The updated list, which appeared Sunday on the agency’s website, includes these six additional symptoms:

• Chills
• Repeated shaking with chills
• Muscle pain
• Headache
• Sore throat
• New loss of taste or smell

In addition, “shortness of breath” is now listed as “shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.”

The World Health Organization (WHO) has a similar symptom list. Their list also includes a runny nose, nausea and diarrhea, although WHO officials indicate that those symptoms are less common.

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Many people who test positive for COVID-19 display no symptoms, however.

Anecdotal confirmation

As the CDC website points out, COVID-19 symptoms range from mild to severe, and any of them may appear from two to 14 days after exposure to the virus.

Several celebrities who have contracted COVID-19 have described one or more of the symptoms newly added to the CDC list.

For example, Chris Cuomo, anchor of CNN’s “Prime Time,” reported shivering so much during his illness that he chipped a tooth. Actor Tom Hanks said he experienced “some very bad body aches” and that his wife, actor Rita Wilson, “lost her sense of taste and sense of smell.” Actor Debi Mazar (“Younger” TV series) listed headaches and a sore throat among her symptoms.

When to get emergency care

The CDC continues to recommend that people seek medical attention immediately when they have any of the following symptoms:

• Trouble breathing
• Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
• New confusion or inability to arouse
• Bluish lips or face

That list is not all-inclusive, however. “Please consult your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning to you,” the CDC advises.

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“Call 911 if you have a medical emergency: Notify the operator that you have, or think you might have, COVID-19. If possible, put on a cloth face covering before medical help arrives,” the agency adds.

FMI: You can find the CDC’s revised symptom list on its website, along with an online Coronavirus Self-Checker to help you determine whether you should contact your doctor. Do not use the self-checker as a substitute for a diagnosis, however. For that you’ll need to get tested.

90,000 Dizziness, chills and fear. How to determine if you have a hypertensive crisis? | HEALTH

Hypertensive crisis is a syndrome characterized by a sharp increase in blood pressure. This condition is accompanied by changes throughout the body, impaired performance of the heart, kidneys and central nervous system. Cardiologist Zoya Tatarintseva told AiF-Yug about his symptoms, first aid and prevention.

Harbingers of stroke

Olga Kiseleva, AiF-Yug: Zoya Gennadievna, what is a hypertensive crisis and how is it dangerous?

Zoya Tatarintseva : According to the stroke registers, 50-65% of people who have had a stroke had hypertensive crises one to two years earlier.They are divided into two groups: complicated and uncomplicated.

Complicated or life-threatening ones require urgent treatment in the intensive care unit due to obvious incipient or progressive damage to target organs (this is the name for those organs that suffer in the first place during arterial hypertension. These are the heart, brain, kidneys, retina and blood vessels. – editor’s note). With uncomplicated or non-life-threatening, there are no signs of acute damage to target organs and effective emergency care can be provided on an outpatient basis.

As a rule, hypertensive crises occur in people suffering from high blood pressure. Stress, physical overload, meteorological influences, lifestyle can provoke an ailment. In particular, if you consume a lot of alcohol, water, salt, chocolate, cheese, caffeine-containing products. Also, some diseases can provoke a crisis, a sudden cancellation of drugs that lower blood pressure, an overdose of corticosteroids, caffeine, etc.

May not appear for years

– Can you suspect you have a hypertensive crisis?

– As a rule, it starts suddenly: from several minutes to several hours.The pressure rises, and this indicator is individual for each person. Severe headache, dizziness, nausea, fear, chills, sweating, fever, thirst, frequent, profuse urination with the release of light urine appear.

– How to protect yourself from this dangerous ailment?

– I recommend that you periodically measure your blood pressure. If it is increased, it is necessary to undergo an examination at the polyclinic at the place of residence at least once every three months.Give yourself a time of relaxation, as quiet as possible. Sleep at least eight hours a day. Eat less animal fats, tonic drinks, alcohol. Do not overuse a lot of liquid. Limit salt intake: eat no more than five grams a day. Stop smoking. Don’t forget about physical activity.

– How to provide first aid to a patient?

– He must be put to bed so that his head is raised. Call a doctor. Then the pulse and blood pressure should be measured and recorded.The patient needs to take drugs that lower blood pressure in their usual dose. I also recommend finding, if available, a previously removed ECG film. A hypertensive crisis is dangerous because it can provoke acute heart failure, pulmonary edema, stroke, edema of the optic nipple.

The main danger of hypertension is that over time it can lead to heart attack and stroke.

– The name “hypertension” is probably familiar to everyone.What are the causes of this disease?

– This is a very common and dangerous pathology. In Russia alone, 1.7 million people die every year from its consequences. Moreover, for many years the disease may not manifest itself in anything, and then unexpectedly inflict a crushing blow on health. The main danger of hypertension is that over time it can lead to heart attack and stroke, long-term disability, disability and even death. Therefore, if a person is sick with diabetes mellitus, suffers from cardiovascular diseases, smokes or abuses alcohol, and also does not observe the work and rest regime, spends a lot of time at the computer, has physical and mental overload, he is at risk.This means that he especially needs to monitor his pressure.

See also:

Cardiology

Cardiology studies diseases of the heart and blood vessels, their causes and their diagnosis. Includes treatment and prevention of cardiovascular diseases.

Heart disease is one of the most common. They are also the main cause of death in the world.

Many of us until recently are unaware of the presence of problems of cardiovascular activity.As a result – infacts, from which tens of thousands of people die every year.

A cardiologist must determine the disease and prescribe the correct treatment.

If the following symptoms appear, it is recommended to consult a cardiologist:

• sharp sharp pain in the chest area
• tingling in the region of the heart
• aching pains and heaviness in the chest
• hypertension
• increased heart rate
• rare pulse
• shortness of breath on physical exertion

Common diseases treated by cardiology:

• Cardiac arrhythmia – violation of the rhythm of cardiac contractions.Arrhythmia symptoms: shortness of breath, dizziness, heart palpitations, general weakness.
• Atherosclerosis – a disease of the blood vessels in which cholesterol is deposited on the inner wall of the arteries in the form of plaques. This constricts the arteries that supply the heart with blood. One of the most dangerous diseases leading to death if untreated. Symptoms: pain in the region of the heart, a feeling of pressure on the chest, weakness in the limbs, pain when breathing.
• Arterial hypertension – a chronic disease associated with high blood pressure.Requires constant monitoring and treatment. At an early stage, the disease is almost asymptomatic. In the future, symptoms may include: heart and headaches, dizziness, darkening of the eyes, tachycardia or bradycardia.
• Arterial hypotension – lowering the level of blood pressure by 20% of the normal level. Symptoms: fainting and loss of consciousness, tinnitus, dizziness, darkening of the eyes, pallor, apathy, loss of strength, impaired thermoregulation, poor tolerance to sudden changes in the environment or stress on the body: heat, cold, humidity, exercise, etc.
• Bradycardia – a decrease in heart rate with a frequency of less than 60 beats per minute. Symptoms: rare heart rhythm, dizziness, loss of consciousness, feeling of weakness, fatigue.
• Vegeto-vascular dystonia – disturbance in the functioning of the nervous system. It is manifested by disorders in the work of many organs and systems of the body. Symptoms: weakness, increased fatigue, sleep disturbances, headaches, fainting, increased or decreased blood pressure, heart murmurs, etc.Treatment requires the consultation of a number of specialists in different fields.
• Hypertensive crisis – a sudden pronounced increase in blood pressure. It is a complication of arterial hypertension, a life-threatening condition. Symptoms: high blood pressure, chills, unwarranted fear and anxiety, facial redness / swelling, cold sweat, headache, vision problems (flies in front of the eyes, loss of visual acuity).
• Myocardial infarction is a focus of ischemic necrosis of the heart muscle, which develops as a result of acute coronary circulation disorder. If you do not provide medical care in time, there is a high probability of death. Symptoms: burning, squeezing, pressing pain behind the sternum, which can radiate to the left arm, neck; pallor; cold sweat; fainting, feeling of fear.
• Ischemic disease – pathology of the blood supply to the heart due to damage to the coronary arteries. Coronary arteries – deliver blood to the heart, and their damage causes the appearance of plaques on the walls of blood vessels, which interfere with normal blood flow.Symptoms: pain in the region of the heart; shortness of breath; cardiopalmus; a feeling of heart sinking in the chest; lack of air, sweating, general weakness.
• Stroke – acute cerebrovascular accident. There are 2 types of strokes. Ischemic – the most common, occurs as a result of narrowing or blockage of blood vessels in the brain. Hemorrhagic stroke is a hemorrhage in the brain or its membranes. It accounts for 20% of cases. When the first signs of a stroke appear, an ambulance must be called urgently. Symptoms: difficulty, speech impairment; acute headaches; violation of coordination of movement; muscle paralysis, usually on one side of the body; a sharp deterioration in vision.
• Cardiomyopathy – a primary lesion of the heart muscle, often of an unexplained cause. Symptoms: shortness of breath, shortness of breath during exercise; increased heart rate; prolonged aching pain in the heart; increased fatigue; dizziness; fainting; swelling in the legs.
• Heart defects – congenital or acquired defects of heart structures.
• Heart failure – violation of the contractile function of the heart. The heart loses its ability to provide all organs and tissues with the required amount of blood. Symptoms: shortness of breath at rest or with little physical exertion; increased fatigue; weakness; swelling; cyanosis of the earlobes, tip of the nose, nails. Heart failure is one of the most common causes of death.
• Angina pectoris – one of the forms of coronary heart disease. An attack of angina pectoris occurs when the required amount of oxygen is not delivered to a certain area of ​​the heart muscle.Symptoms of an angina attack: chest pain, fear and anxiety, difficulty breathing.
• Tachycardia – increased heart rate. Symptoms: high resting heart rate, throbbing of the neck vessels, dizziness, restlessness.
• Thrombosis – the formation of blood clots inside the vessels. Blood clots in the coronary vessels cause a heart attack, in the vessels of the brain – a stroke, in the veins of the legs – thrombophlebitis. The symptoms of thrombosis depend on the location of the thrombus.
• Embolism – occlusion of the lumen of a blood vessel. As a result, blood flow partially or completely stops. Symptoms appear depending on the lesion.

Contact our Medical Center for professional consultation of a cardiologist, examination and effective treatment!

90,000 Myocardial Infarction Symptoms – Obvious to Unusual

Myocardial infarction always presents with severe chest pain. If it doesn’t hurt, then there is no danger – but is it really so? According to the average statistics, typical anginal pain (pressing, squeezing behind the sternum in the region of the heart) pain appears in approximately 70% of patients. Think about this figure. This means that about a third of heart attack cases do not occur in the classic form – and time for assistance may be lost.

What you need to know about pain in myocardial infarction
Pain can manifest itself in different ways:

1. Classic, or anginal variant.This is pain localized in the chest region (in the region of the heart)
2. Atypical, or peripheral variant. The patient is worried about pain in the scapula, left arm; a heart attack in the initial period of development can be mistaken for osteochondrosis or confused with heartburn due to discomfort in the upper thoracic spine
3. Atypical, or non-classical variant. This is pain in the abdomen, left and / or right hypochondrium, lower back. There are cases when the throat or ear, lower jaw and teeth are sore

Patients who have had myocardial infarction describe the pain as burning, pressing, squeezing, tearing, bursting or pulling.Often there is irradiation, or the return of chest pain to other areas of the body: shoulder, scapula or interscapular region, neck, hand and fingers, left half of the head.

The pain can be erased, muted (this is typical for patients with diabetes mellitus or elderly people, as well as with repeated heart attacks) or so severe that the patient cannot find a place for himself, groans, screams.

Pain with myocardial infarction lasts longer than 20 minutes.

It can be constant or wave-like, dying down or growing – but long-term preservation makes it possible to suspect a heart attack, distinguishing it from another probable cause of a pain attack – angina pectoris.

A typical picture of a heart attack
The most striking symptom is pain – and, as you already know, it can manifest itself in different ways both in the area of ​​localization and in intensity.

Companions of pain in myocardial infarction:

• fear of death
• excitement and anxiety
• shortness of breath
• severe weakness
• dizziness
• cold sticky sweat on the skin
• instability of blood pressure (either falls or increases) and pulse (it increases, then slows down)

Probable, but not necessary, signs – bloating and upset stools.Many people complain of a feeling of numbness in the arms and legs, a feeling of freezing.

Atypical forms of myocardial infarction
In most cases, they are observed in people over 60 years of age, as well as in patients with diabetes mellitus and / or hypertension, already previously suffered from a heart attack.

So, asthmatic is the most common among atypical forms. The leading symptom is difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, reaching the point of suffocation. There may be a cough with pinkish, frothy expectoration. Very often, these signs precede or occur at the same time as severe chest pain.

Another difficult option for diagnosis is gastralgic (abdominal, abdominal). The patient has a stomach ache and swollen, there is nausea, vomiting, diarrhea – symptoms that make you think about problems with the digestive system, and not about a heart attack.

It is worth remembering that with a heart attack, the body temperature can rise – up to 38-38.5 degrees Celsius.

Sometimes there is a symptom complex:

• headache
• dizziness
• nausea, vomiting
• darkening in the eyes
• darkening and loss of consciousness

This form is called cerebral (cerebral).Symptoms can distract from the diagnosis of a heart attack, giving rise to suspicion of another emergency condition – acute cerebrovascular accident (stroke).

Combined options are not excluded – when classic symptoms and signs of different atypical forms are combined with each other.

Heart attack without pain – is it real?
Not everyone knows about this, but there is a so-called painless form of myocardial damage. Sometimes they speak of it as a “dumb heart” – after all, pain, in addition to unpleasant experiences, has a protective function, becoming a signal to the body about the need for help.

This is a special variant of the course of coronary heart disease, when the violation of blood flow in the coronary vessels is not accompanied by a feeling of pain, pressure, burning sensation behind the breastbone. A person is unaware of the pathology – and at some point, for example, with excessive physical exertion, stress, oxygen starvation of the heart muscle becomes critical, a heart attack develops.

No pain does not mean no symptoms at all. Firstly, even if she is not at the initial stage of the development of a heart attack, she can join later.

Secondly, as the pathological process progresses, a person feels weakness, dizziness, shortness of breath and other signs characteristic of acute heart failure.

What form of myocardial infarction is more dangerous?
Although atypical forms are less common than the classical variant, they are equally dangerous. The term “atypical” is used to emphasize unusual symptoms; it does not reflect the severity of the process.

One should not overlook such a factor as the timeliness of seeking medical help.A heart attack can overtake suddenly, in the midst of seemingly complete health – or come after a pre-infarction state (also called unstable angina pectoris), lasting hours, days or even weeks.

After myocardial infarction, each patient is shown rehabilitation – its duration depends on the severity of the condition.

Rehabilitation is just as important as emergency medical care. Myocardial infarction is called a cardiac accident for a reason.This is a critical condition that can recur if the patient is not treated.

Rehabilitation in the “Consilium” allows you to improve your well-being, returning the patient to a feeling of fullness of life – and in addition, to train a weakened heart, reduce the need for drugs and reduce the risk for future health.

90,000 COVID-19 patients talked about severe weakness, shortness of breath, sweating, chills and other consequences of coronavirus infection | 74.ru

Priest Vasily recalls that at first he took covid for a common cold, because there were no special symptoms:

– At first it was not scary: the temperature was around 37 degrees and sore throat and nose, but not like with a runny nose, but how if you swim in a pool with chlorinated water for a long time.Then the temperature rose to 38 degrees, and for five days there was such a hellish weakness that I literally fell off my feet.

But one morning Vasily woke up with the feeling that he was healthy: no fever, no soreness. But the sense of smell and taste disappeared:

– Well, how was it – I could distinguish salty from sweet, but I did not feel a specific taste: at least bring the bleach to your nose – it makes no difference.

In the end, Vasily went to a paid CT scan, where 25% of his lungs were damaged: in August, they were already admitted to the hospital with such results (now it is not a fact). He spent a week in the hospital:

– After an illness I feel weak: I went up three floors – I want to lie down, washed the dishes – the same thing. In addition, I was stuffed with powerful antibiotics, and the tests showed that they had severely sagged my liver. Now I am engaged in its restoration.

Vasily notes that covid also has psychological consequences:

– This affected me to a lesser extent, but from friends I noticed that they suffer from irritability, apathy and depression.This despondency begins even during the illness and does not let go afterwards.

Journalist Alexander adds:

– And I have agoraphobia – fear of crowds. On the one hand, you can’t get sick again right away, but I can’t bring myself to go to the clinic: for me it’s like being on the front line. Those who have not been ill with covid will not understand, but when you go through all this hell, you definitely do not want a second time. So I wish everyone to be reasonable and not get infected with this stuff. I myself did not believe in it until I got sick.

Abdominal pain and loose stools

Abdominal pain with diarrhea most often indicates an intestinal infection. There are a lot of causative agents of such diseases, and they enter the body through dirty hands, water (when swimming in contaminated water bodies), when eating infected food.

The main signs of intestinal infection, in addition to loose stools, are frequent vomiting and fever, fever. Intestinal infections are very unpleasant diseases for humans. Constant diarrhea and vomiting lead to rapid dehydration, general weakness and poor health.

What diseases cause diarrhea and abdominal pain:

• Dysentery: The incubation period lasts 1-2 days. Then there is a fever (40 and above), painful cramps in the abdomen. Watery diarrhea up to 10-30 times a day. The feces contain mucus and blood. The patient has a constant urge to defecate.
• Rotavirus infection: The incubation period is up to 5 days. Vomiting is a mandatory symptom of infection.There is general intoxication, fever, runny nose and swelling. There is abundant liquid yellow-green stools, pain in the upper and middle parts of the abdomen.
• Salmonellosis: incubation period – from several hours to several days. The patient’s temperature rises (up to 39 o). There is vomiting, cramping abdominal pain, watery and foul-smelling loose stools.
• Staphylococcal food poisoning: the first signs appear 2-4 hours after infection.There is a high temperature (38-38.5), chills, severe paroxysmal pain in the abdomen. The patient often vomits, diarrhea is not always present.

Symptoms such as abdominal pain and diarrhea are present in many other intestinal diseases: paratyphoid fever, cholera, intestinal yersiniosis, etc. Do not think that many of these diseases have long been eliminated: their causative agent can be easily found at a resort in the tropical zone. Therefore, always wash your hands and food thoroughly, do not eat foods you do not know.

Intestinal infections have a favorable prognosis with adequate medical care. Therefore, if you have symptoms of infection, call your doctor. Proper treatment will allow you to quickly and without complications cope with the disease.

Be healthy!

In Moscow, the proportion of people with side effects after vaccination against COVID was named :: Society :: RBC

Photo: Pavel Lisitsyn / RIA Novosti

Almost one in ten may feel fever, chills, weakness or nausea after being vaccinated against the COVID-19 coronavirus infection with Sputnik V. This is reported by “RIA Novosti” with reference to a memo for residents of Moscow, which is given to patients after vaccination.

The memo reports that 5.7% of patients may feel body and muscle aches, chills or fever, headache, or a temperature of more than 37 degrees. When the temperature rises above 38 degrees, patients should take antipyretic and pain relievers (paracetamol or ibuprofen), and if the body temperature remains above 39 degrees for four hours after taking medication, then you need to call a doctor, the recommendations say.

At the same time, about 4.7% of patients receiving the vaccine complained of pain, itching, swelling and redness at the injection site. The recommendations note that separate treatment in such cases, as a rule, is not required, however, to eliminate edema and discomfort, it is recommended to take antihistamines.

British virologists have evaluated the data on the effectiveness of the vaccine “Sputnik V”

Among other things, 1. 5% of patients tend to feel a stuffy nose, runny nose or sore throat.In such cases, experts recommend drinking plenty of fluids, gargling, and using nasal sprays. In less than 1% of patients, there may be an increase in heart rate or an increase in pressure.

Most patients tolerate vaccination without discomfort. Moreover, their appearance is also a normal individual reaction of the body and one of the signs of the formation of immunity. In the event of weakness, general fatigue and nausea, patients are advised to reduce physical activity and allow themselves to rest.

Doctor reported unusual course of COVID-19 in some patients

President Vladimir Putin announced the registration of the world’s first coronavirus vaccine Sputnik V in mid-August. The drug was developed by specialists of the Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology named after V.I. N.F. Gamalei. Vaccination is carried out in two stages: first, the first component of the drug is injected, and three weeks later, a second injection is given.

On December 2, Vladimir Putin ordered to begin large-scale vaccination against coronavirus in the country from next week. According to the head of state, the volume of vaccine production in the next few days will reach 2 million doses, which, according to Putin, will make it possible to start, if not mass, then large-scale vaccination, which will primarily affect two risk groups – doctors and teachers.

Coronavirus

Russia Moscow World

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0

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died

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Source: JHU, Federal and Regional Virus Control Headquarters

90,000 When a headache becomes deadly: important symptoms

How to get rid of a headache? Read in the new book by Sergei Agapkin. Photo: Ivan MAKEEV

The well-known TV presenter Sergei Agapkin wrote the book “Don’t let your head split”, in which he describes in detail the dangerous situations associated with headaches: even get rid of them completely. But there are cases in which one cannot hesitate even a minute! No exercise, no pills, no self-medication – run to the doctor or to the phone – call the ambulance team! “

With the permission of the publisher we are publishing an excerpt from the book.

When a headache cannot be tolerated

A common headache, although it causes various sensations from simple discomfort to incredible torment, is not dangerous and does not threaten life. But in some situations, pain in the head does not arise by itself, but is a symptom of dangerous conditions and diseases. These headaches are called secondary headaches.

Secondary headaches occur as a result of pathological processes that develop inside the body, and often – not in the head, but in other parts of the body. To distinguish these headaches from common (primary) headaches, doctors have developed a system of “red flags” – identified symptoms that indicate a life-threatening condition.

“Red flags”: headache danger signals

* Sudden onset of severe “thunder-like” headache.

* Emergence of a new headache that differs from the usual one.

* Significant increase in habitual headaches.

* Headache with aura (visual disturbances, less often – sensory disorders in the form of tingling or numbness in the lips, tongue, one half of the face), which lasts more than 1 hour or is accompanied by symptoms of weakness in the limbs.

* Appearance of aura without headache if migraine has not occurred before.

* Aura that first appeared while taking hormonal contraceptives.

* First-onset headache in a person over 50 years old.

* Aggravation of headache when changing the position of the head or during loads associated with increased intracranial pressure (coughing, sneezing, blowing your nose, physical exertion, sexual activity).

* New-onset headache in a person suffering from a cancer process, HIV infection or an immunodeficiency state.

* Headache is accompanied by deafness, confusion and memory loss.

* Headache is accompanied by symptoms of intoxication: pain in muscles, joints, fever, chills, etc.

* The headache, without stopping, lasts several weeks and progresses in intensity of pain.

Cover of the book by Sergei Agapkin.

When to see a doctor urgently

You also need to be vigilant and immediately consult a doctor if the headache is accompanied by:

* vomiting that does not bring relief;

* severe dizziness;

* increase in body temperature;

* severe diarrhea;

* difficulty breathing;

* visual impairment;

* disorders of coordination of movements;

* speech illegibility or confusion;

* loss of smell;

* constant ringing in the ears;

* the appearance of facial asymmetry;

* the appearance of pupil asymmetry;

* muscle tension in the occiput, in which a person cannot tilt his head forward;

* inability to keep the head upright;

* the appearance of a red rash on the skin;

* increased blood pressure;

* lack of response to pain medications.

Another “red flag” signaling the need for urgent medical attention is a headache that occurs after a head or neck injury, as well as after surgery in these areas.

In general, secondary headaches can occur for many reasons: due to inflammation of the vessels of the face, inflammation of the tooth, increased intracranial pressure, side effects of certain drugs, diseases of the endocrine system, diseases of the ear, throat and nose.

IMPORTANT

8 most dangerous causes of headaches

1. Ischemic stroke

Symptoms:

Loss of sensitivity, feeling of creeping or numbness, most often in one half of the body; severe weakness; double vision, blurred vision or complete loss of vision; speech disorders; noise in ears; swallowing disorders; dizziness, nausea, and vomiting; violation of coordination of movements; swallowing disorders; delirium, impaired consciousness, in some cases – loss of consciousness.

2. Transient ischemic attack

Symptoms:

Similar to the manifestations of a stroke, but last no more than 24 hours.

3. Aneurysm of cerebral vessels

Symptoms:

With an unruptured aneurysm – visual impairment, eye pain, dilated pupils, numbness or weakness in one half of the face, sensory disturbances in the extremities, epileptic seizures. With a ruptured aneurysm – nausea, vomiting, double vision, photophobia, tension in the muscles of the neck and occiput, drooping of the eyelid, convulsions, often – loss of consciousness.

4. Tumors of the brain

Symptoms:

Vomiting in the morning, on an empty stomach, without prior nausea; dizziness; deterioration of vision; memory impairment, concentration, thinking; hearing impairment; speech disorders; impaired coordination of movements; sudden fainting; sudden mood swings; epileptic seizures; hallucinations.

5. Poisoning with toxic substances

Symptoms:

Depends on the effect of the specific toxic substance.

6. Infectious meningitis

Symptoms:

Fever; the appearance of a hemorrhagic rash; photophobia; intolerance to sounds; nausea and gushing vomiting that does not bring relief; tension of the muscles of the neck, which does not allow tilting the head forward; delirium, hallucinations, convulsions, confusion, coma.

7. Hypertensive crisis

Symptoms:

A sudden sharp increase in blood pressure by 20-50 mm. rt. Art.in comparison with the usual indicators; nausea and vomiting; pulsation in the temples; tachycardia; dyspnea; a burning sensation and pain in the chest; speech disorders, coordination of movements; sensitivity disorders; urination disorders; the emergence of a strong fear of death.

8. Acute attack of glaucoma

Symptoms:

Pain in the eye area; the appearance of rainbow circles around light sources, blurred vision, a strong decrease in visual acuity; nausea and vomiting; dizziness; discomfort in the region of the heart, heart rhythm disturbances, pain in the heart; sometimes – abdominal pain; general weakness; chills.