Why does your body ache when you’re sick. How can you alleviate full-body pain during illness. When should you consult a doctor for body aches. What are the underlying causes of body pain during sickness. How does the immune system contribute to body aches. What home remedies can provide relief from body pain. How long should body aches last during an illness.

Understanding the Connection Between Illness and Body Aches

When you fall ill with a cold, flu, or other viral or bacterial infections, your body often responds with a widespread aching sensation. This phenomenon, known as fever body pain, can be particularly uncomfortable and debilitating. But why does this happen?

The root cause of body aches during illness lies in your immune system’s response to the invading pathogens. As your body detects the presence of harmful microorganisms, it initiates a complex series of defensive mechanisms.

The Immune Response and Inflammation

One of the primary ways your immune system fights off infections is by releasing white blood cells. These specialized cells are tasked with identifying and neutralizing the invaders. However, this process also triggers inflammation throughout your body.

Inflammation, while a crucial part of the healing process, can lead to discomfort in your muscles and joints. This is why you often experience a dull, pervasive ache throughout your body when you’re sick.

The Intensity of Body Aches

The severity of your body aches can vary depending on the strength of your immune response. Generally, the harder your body works to combat the infection, the more intense the aching sensation may become.

Is there a correlation between the severity of the illness and the intensity of body aches? While not always the case, more serious infections often lead to a stronger immune response, which can result in more pronounced body pain.

Common Symptoms Accompanying Body Aches During Illness

Body aches rarely occur in isolation when you’re sick. They’re typically part of a constellation of symptoms that indicate your body is fighting off an infection. Some of the most common accompanying symptoms include:

• Fever
• Weakness
• Fatigue
• Shivering or fluctuations in body temperature
• Cold and flu-like symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, or congestion

These symptoms, combined with body aches, can significantly impact your daily life and overall well-being during an illness.

Effective Home Remedies for Alleviating Body Aches

While the best way to reduce body aches is to treat the underlying illness, there are several home remedies you can employ to find relief while your body fights off the infection.

Hydration: A Key Factor in Recovery

Maintaining proper hydration is crucial when you’re dealing with body aches and other symptoms of illness. Many common symptoms like sweating, vomiting, and diarrhea can lead to dehydration, which can exacerbate your discomfort.

How can you ensure you’re staying adequately hydrated? Focus on consuming plenty of fluids such as:

• Water
• Broth
• Herbal tea
• Electrolyte drinks
• Soup

These liquids not only help replenish lost fluids but also provide essential nutrients that support your body’s healing process.

The Healing Power of Heat

Heat therapy can be an effective way to relax tense muscles and provide relief from body aches. Consider the following methods:

1. Taking a warm bath or shower
2. Using a heating pad
3. Wrapping yourself in a warm blanket

However, it’s important to exercise caution when using heat therapy, especially if you have a fever. Keep the water temperature just above lukewarm to avoid raising your body temperature further. Also, avoid falling asleep with heating pads or electric blankets to prevent potential burns or overheating.

Regulating Body Temperature

Body aches often coincide with fever, which can cause shivering and muscle tension. To help regulate your body temperature and reduce aches:

• Take fever-reducing pain medication
• Consider taking a cool bath if your fever is high
• Use a thin blanket or sheet instead of heavy bedding

By maintaining a more stable body temperature, you can help alleviate some of the muscle tension that contributes to body aches.

The Importance of Rest in Fighting Illness and Reducing Body Aches

Rest is a crucial component in your body’s ability to fight off infections and recover from illness. When you’re dealing with body aches, getting adequate rest becomes even more important.

The Sleep-Immune System Connection

Research has shown a strong link between sleep and immune function. Quality sleep can strengthen your body’s defense system, while a lack of sleep can weaken your immune response.

During illness, your body often craves more sleep as it dedicates energy to fighting off the infection. However, other symptoms like congestion, coughing, or fever can make it challenging to get restful sleep.

Strategies for Better Rest When You’re Sick

To improve your chances of getting quality rest while dealing with body aches and other symptoms:

• Create a comfortable sleeping environment
• Use a humidifier to ease respiratory symptoms
• Elevate your head to reduce congestion
• Avoid screens before bedtime
• Practice relaxation techniques like deep breathing or gentle stretching

Remember, resting doesn’t always mean sleeping. Even quiet, low-energy activities can help your body conserve energy for fighting the infection.

Over-the-Counter Pain Relief Options for Body Aches

When home remedies aren’t providing sufficient relief from body aches, over-the-counter (OTC) pain medications can be a helpful option. However, it’s important to choose the right type of medication for optimal relief.

NSAIDs: The Preferred Choice for Body Aches

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are typically the most effective OTC option for relieving body aches associated with illness. Why are NSAIDs particularly beneficial for this type of pain?

• They have anti-inflammatory properties
• They block the body’s production of inflammation-causing chemicals
• Many NSAIDs also help reduce fever, addressing another common symptom

Common NSAIDs include ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve). Always follow the recommended dosage and consult with a healthcare provider if you have any concerns or preexisting conditions.

Acetaminophen: An Alternative Option

While not an anti-inflammatory, acetaminophen (Tylenol) can also help reduce pain and fever associated with illness. It may be a good alternative for those who can’t take NSAIDs due to medical reasons.

Can you combine different types of OTC pain relievers? It’s generally safe to alternate between NSAIDs and acetaminophen, but always consult with a healthcare provider before combining medications.

When to Seek Medical Attention for Body Aches

While body aches during illness are common and often resolve on their own, there are situations where medical attention may be necessary. Understanding when to consult a healthcare provider is crucial for ensuring proper treatment and preventing potential complications.

Duration of Symptoms

If your body aches persist for more than 3-5 days without improvement, it’s advisable to check in with your primary care physician (PCP). Prolonged symptoms could indicate a more serious underlying condition or a complication of the initial illness.

Severe or Unusual Symptoms

Certain symptoms accompanying body aches warrant immediate medical attention. These include:

• Body aches that appear after a tick bite
• Severe redness or swelling
• The presence of a rash
• High fever that doesn’t respond to OTC medication
• Difficulty breathing
• Chest pain
• Severe headache

These symptoms could indicate more serious conditions such as Lyme disease, cellulitis, or severe systemic infections that require prompt medical intervention.

Chronic or Recurrent Body Aches

If you experience frequent or long-lasting body aches without other symptoms of illness, it’s important to consult with your PCP. Chronic body aches could be a sign of:

• An adverse drug reaction
• An underlying autoimmune condition
• Fibromyalgia
• Chronic fatigue syndrome
• Other systemic health issues

A thorough medical evaluation can help identify the root cause and determine the most appropriate treatment plan.

Understanding the Broader Spectrum of Body Aches

While we’ve focused primarily on body aches associated with acute illnesses like colds and flu, it’s important to recognize that body aches can stem from a wide variety of causes. Understanding these potential origins can help you better identify when to seek medical attention and what kind of treatment might be most effective.

Common Causes of Body Aches

Body aches can result from numerous conditions, including:

• Viral infections (e.g., influenza, COVID-19)
• Bacterial infections
• Arthritis
• Fibromyalgia
• Chronic fatigue syndrome
• Lyme disease
• Lupus
• Polymyalgia rheumatica
• Stress and anxiety
• Dehydration
• Vitamin D deficiency
• Overexertion or physical strain
• Medications (as a side effect)
• Sleep disorders
• Hormonal imbalances
• Thyroid disorders
• Cancer (in rare cases)

Given this wide range of potential causes, persistent or severe body aches should always be evaluated by a healthcare professional to determine the underlying cause and appropriate treatment.

The Mind-Body Connection in Body Aches

It’s crucial to recognize the role that mental health can play in physical sensations like body aches. Stress, anxiety, and depression can all manifest as physical symptoms, including widespread body pain.

How does stress contribute to body aches? Chronic stress can lead to:

• Increased muscle tension
• Alterations in pain perception
• Changes in the body’s inflammatory response
• Disrupted sleep patterns, which can exacerbate pain

If you’re experiencing persistent body aches and also dealing with significant stress or mental health concerns, it’s important to address both the physical and psychological aspects of your health. A holistic approach that includes stress management techniques, counseling, and physical care can often provide the most effective relief.

Preventive Measures to Reduce the Likelihood of Illness-Related Body Aches

While it’s not always possible to prevent illness and associated body aches, there are steps you can take to boost your immune system and reduce your risk of falling ill. By incorporating these practices into your daily routine, you may be able to minimize the frequency and severity of illness-related body aches.

Lifestyle Habits for a Strong Immune System

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is key to supporting your immune function. Consider adopting the following habits:

• Regular exercise: Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week
• Balanced diet: Focus on fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains
• Adequate sleep: Strive for 7-9 hours of quality sleep each night
• Stress management: Practice relaxation techniques like meditation or yoga
• Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water throughout the day
• Limit alcohol consumption and avoid smoking

Hygiene Practices to Prevent Infections

Many illnesses that cause body aches are transmitted through contact with pathogens. To reduce your risk of exposure:

• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water
• Use hand sanitizer when soap and water aren’t available
• Avoid touching your face, especially your mouth, nose, and eyes
• Stay away from people who are sick when possible
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces in your home and workspace

Vaccination: A Powerful Preventive Tool

Staying up-to-date with recommended vaccinations can significantly reduce your risk of certain illnesses that cause body aches. Key vaccinations to consider include:

• Annual flu shot
• COVID-19 vaccine and boosters
• Pneumococcal vaccine (for those at higher risk)
• Shingles vaccine (for older adults)

Always consult with your healthcare provider to determine which vaccinations are appropriate for you based on your age, health status, and other factors.

By implementing these preventive measures, you can help fortify your body against illnesses that cause body aches. However, remember that even with the best prevention, occasional illnesses are a normal part of life. When they do occur, the remedies and guidelines discussed earlier can help you manage body aches and other symptoms effectively.

Why your whole body aches when you’re sick (and what you can do about it)

Coming down with a cold, virus or the flu is never fun. But sometimes you can push through if the symptoms aren’t too bad. Have a sore throat? Gargle. Feeling congested? Take a steam shower. Mild fever? Take fever-reducing medicine. It’s bearable, though not ideal.

But once full-body aches set in (often accompanied by a fever), you may quickly find yourself out of commission. Unlike the muscle aches that can come on after one too many squats, body aches from an illness tend to cause dull pain and discomfort everywhere.

The good news is you can find some relief from full-body aches right in the comfort of your home. Here’s what you need to know:

What causes body aches when you’re sick?

When you have the flu, a common cold, a virus or a bacterial infection, your immune system jumps into action. It reacts by releasing white blood cells to fight off the infection. The reaction causes inflammation, which can leave your muscles feeling achy.

The good news is that your achiness is a sign that your body is fighting off the illness. But the harder your body works, the more severely the body might ache.

Full-body aches are also often accompanied by other symptoms including:

• Fever
• Weakness
• Fatigue
• Shivering or body temperature changes
• Cold and flu-like symptoms

What helps body aches

The best way to diminish full-body aches is to treat the underlying cause of the aching. But as you’re waiting for treatment to kick in — or just waiting for a virus to run its course — try to:

Stay hydrated

Some symptoms of cold and flu — such as sweating, vomiting and diarrhea — can leave you dehydrated. But water is essential to your body’s normal functioning and its ability to fight infection. Drink plenty of water, broth, tea or electrolyte drinks. Soup is also a great way to stay hydrated, especially if you are struggling to eat solid foods.

Use heat to relax your muscles

Heat can loosen muscles and provide relief from body aches. If you don’t have a severe fever, a warm bath or shower can be relaxing. But avoid making the temperature too hot — keep the water just above lukewarm to maintain your body temperature. Heating pads or blankets can also offer some comfort, but avoid excessive heat and don’t use them if there is a chance you may fall asleep.

Regulate your body temperature

Full-body aches often go hand-in-hand with a fever. As a higher body temperature causes you to shiver, your muscles tense up and may begin to ache. To regulate your body temperature, reach for fever-reducing pain medicine, take a cool bath and use only a thin blanket or sheet.

Rest

Research shows that the immune system and sleep are closely connected. Sleep strengthens the body’s defense system. And when the body is fighting infection, it craves more sleep. The problem is that when you are sick, other symptoms often make it hard to sleep soundly. Try to rest as much as possible — it will relax your muscles and speed up the healing process.

Take over-the-counter pain medication

Common pain relievers may help you feel better but be sure to choose non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen. NSAIDs have anti-inflammatory properties and block the body’s production of inflammation-causing chemicals. As a bonus, NSAIDs also help reduce fever to regulate body temperature.

When to see your doctor about full-body aches

Body aches from a viral illness typically clear up in a couple of days and improve with home remedies. But if your body aches haven’t gotten better after 3-5 days, check in with your primary care physician (PCP).

See a doctor sooner if your body aches:

• Appear after a tick bite
• Accompany severe redness or swelling
• Occur with a rash

If you don’t have a fever or other symptoms, and you experience body aches often or for prolonged periods of time, make an appointment with your PCP. It could be a sign of a drug reaction or a more severe and chronic underlying medical condition, such as an autoimmune disease.

If you have body aches that aren’t improving, reach out to your primary care physician.

Body Aches: 17 Possible Causes

Body aches occur with many health conditions, including arthritis and the flu. If the pain lasts more than a few days, is severe, or occurs with other symptoms, you may need medical attention.

Often, rest and home treatment can relieve body aches. However, persistent or severe pain may have an underlying cause that needs medical attention.

A doctor can help you work out a treatment plan to relieve your aches and other associated symptoms.

Keep reading to learn more about 17 causes for body aches and pains and other symptoms of each, to help you work out what’s happening.

We often think of stress as a mental health condition, but it can also impact the body on a cellular level.

In times of stress, the body can become more susceptible to infection and inflammation, and it may lead to aches and pains.

Other symptoms of stress and anxiety include:

• an increased heart rate and blood pressure
• sweating
• hyperventilating
• trembling
• headache

Get some tips for relieving stress here.

Water is an essential ingredient for the body’s normal and healthy functioning. Without it, you can become dehydrated, which can lead to muscle cramps.

Other symptoms of dehydration include:

• dark urine
• dizziness or disorientation
• exhaustion
• extreme thirst

What’s the best way to rehydrate?

Adults aged 18 and over need to sleep at least 7 hours in every 24 hours.

Having too little sleep can make you more sensitive to pain. It can also worsen existing pain symptoms.

Around 25% of your sleep should be the deepest sleep. During this time, the body repairs itself and releases essential hormones, among other functions.

Not getting enough quality sleep also increase the risk of various chronic conditions, such as:

• diabetes
• cardiovascular disease
• obesity
• depression

How much deep, light, and REM sleep do we need, and how can we get enough good quality sleep?

A cold, the flu, COVID-19, and other infections can cause inflammation as your immune system works to remove them. This can cause aches and pains.

Here are some common symptoms of these conditions.

Cold symptoms are usually milder than those of flu. The severity and types of COVID-19 symptoms vary widely, but they can become life threatening if a person finds it hard to breathe.

What’s the difference between cold and flu symptoms?

Anemia happens when your body doesn’t have enough properly functioning red blood cells, so your body tissues can’t get enough oxygen.

Some people who live with chronic conditions have anemia of inflammation. Experts believe this may result when a chronic condition affects how the body works, including how it uses iron.

Possible symptoms include:

• body pain
• a rapid heart rate
• dizziness or light-headedness
• weakness and fatigue
• pale skin
• shortness of breath

What are some signs of iron deficiency anemia?

Hypocalcemia, or a low blood calcium level, can happen when you don’t have enough calcium in your diet and vitamin D (calciferol) in your body from sunshine or your diet.

Your bones and muscles need calcium and vitamin D to stay healthy.

Low vitamin D levels can lead to:

• bone pain and unusual bone shape in children and teens
• muscle pain and weakness
• muscle cramps

How can I get more vitamin D?

Mononucleosis, mono, or “kissing disease” is an infection caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV).

It’s very contagious, and symptoms include head and body aches.

Other symptoms are:

• fatigue
• fever
• a sore throat
• swollen lymph nodes
• an enlarged liver, spleen, or both
• a rash

What treatments can you use for mono?

Pneumonia is a lung infection that can affect your whole body.

It can cause chest and muscle pain, as well as:

• a cough, which may be dry or produce green, yellow, or blood-tinged mucus
• headache
• fever and chills
• breathing difficulty
• fatigue
• low appetite
• confusion
• nausea and vomiting, especially in children

Can home remedies support medical treatment for pneumonia?

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition where your entire body feels exhausted, achy, and sensitive.

Why is happens is unclear, but older age and having lupus or rheumatoid arthritis seem to increase the risk.

Symptoms include:

• pain and stiffness throughout the body
• fatigue
• depression and anxiety
• sleep problems
• difficulty thinking, focusing, and remembering
• headaches and migraine

Fibromyalgia diet: Can it help?

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), also called myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), can cause you to feel exhausted and weak, no matter how much rest or sleep you get.

Possible causes include previous infection with the EBV or other viruses, genetic factors, and changes in the immune system.

Symptoms of CFS include:

• aches in the muscles and joints throughout your body
• fatigue that does not improve with rest
• a general feeling of being unwell
• headaches
• sleep disturbances and daytime drowsiness
• difficulty thinking and remembering

Get some diet hacks to reduce chronic fatigue

Arthritis happens when your joints become inflamed. There are different types of arthritis, and symptoms can vary, but they all include joint pain.

Examples include:

• osteoarthritis, which happens when the cartilage around your joints breaks down
• autoimmune conditions that wear away the lining around your joints, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
• gout, when a buildup of uric acid crystals causes pain, swelling, and inflammation
• psoriatic arthritis, which can occur with psoriasis and often involves swelling in the fingers

Other symptoms of arthritis include:

• stiffness in your joints
• swelling, warmth, or redness around the joint
• not being able to move a joint all the way

Can Ayurvedic treatment help with arthritis?

Lupus, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), happens when your immune system attacks the tissues around your body, including blood vessels, organs, and joints.

The damage and inflammation that can lead to pain in the joints due to arthritis.

Other symptoms include:

• skin lesions and rashes
• anemia
• headache
• heart, lung, and kidney problems
• ear and eye problems

What are some diet tips for lupus?

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that spreads through tick bites.

Symptoms develop in stages and include:

• a rash
• muscle pain
• eye pain
• joint pain, especially in the knee, ankle, and wrist joints
• facial palsy, or weakness in the facial muscles

Without treatment, Lyme disease can lead to neuromuscular and joint conditions, such as arthritis and facial paralysis. It can also cause heart problems.

What is the Lyme disease antibody test?

Histoplasmosis is a fungal infection caused by airborne spores from the soil or the droppings of bats or birds, especially in river valleys.

Possible symptoms include:

• flu-like symptoms
• chills and fever
• chest pain
• joint pain, in some cases
• headaches
• coughing

How can histoplasmosis affect the eyes?

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune condition that affects the nervous system. It causes the myelin coverings around nerves to break down because of constant inflammation. As a result, the nerves cannot transmit messages effectively.

As a result, a person with MS will experience body aches and pain.

They may also experience:

• vision changes
• fatigue
• weakness
• tingling
• trouble walking or staying balanced
• trouble remembering or thinking

What are the treatments for MS?

Sepsis is an extreme response to an infection. It happens when an infection in the lungs, skin, or elsewhere triggers an immune reaction throughout the body. It is a life-threatening emergency.

The symptoms of sepsis include:

• severe pain
• a rapid heart rate or weak pulse
• confusion
• fever or chills
• difficulty breathing
• clammy skin

Anyone with these symptoms needs urgent medical treatment, especially if they have a weakened immune system or already have an infection. It can quickly lead to septic shock, which can be fatal.

Cancer can cause general body pain if it spreads throughout the body or if a person has bone cancer. As late-stage cancer progresses, the pain will increase, and the person will need strong pain relief medication.

Depending on where cancer has spread, other late-stage symptoms may include:

• bone pain and fractures if cancer is in the bones
• shortness of breath, if cancer is in the lungs
• headaches and dizziness if cancer has reached the brain
• abdominal swelling and jaundice, which give a yellow tinge to the eyes, if cancer has spread to the liver

Some cancer treatments can also cause bone pain.

Anyone with cancer or a previous diagnosis of cancer should speak with a doctor if they notice an onset of general pain or bone pain.

What are the stages of cancer?

Why do I have joint pain in the morning?

Joint pain and stiffness that is present when you wake up and lasts 30 minutes or longer may be a sign of RA. RA usually affects more than one joint, and it occurs in corresponding joints on both sides of the body, for instance, both knees.

What does it mean when you have body aches but no fever?

Body aches often happen with an infection, and you may also have a fever and chills. However, they also can occur without a fever, for instance, if you have been exercising more than usual, if you are not sleeping well, or if you are lacking nutrients, such as vitamin D or calcium.

How do you stop body aches?

This will depend on the cause. If it is due to exercise, you will have to wait until they resolve. Some underlying conditions, such as a cold or the flu, respond to rest and home treatment. Other causes will need medical attention. In the case of sepsis, the person will need immediate help.

Seek emergency medication attention if you have body pain with the following symptoms:

• trouble breathing
• trouble eating or drinking
• a high fever
• confusion
• seizures
• extreme fatigue or exhaustion
• a bad cough that doesn’t go away after a few days

If other, milder symptoms last for more than 2 weeks, see your doctor. They can examine you for a possible underlying condition. They will then work with you on a treatment plan to reduce the pain and treat the cause.

If you don’t already have a primary care doctor, you can browse doctors in your area through the Healthline FindCare tool.

Body aches and pains can happen for many reasons, ranging from stress to sepsis. Many of these causes are not serious and will resolve without treatment, but some may need urgent medical treatment.

If so, a doctor will consider the aches and pains along with other symptoms and carry out various tests before making a diagnosis.

Read this article in Spanish.

Breaks the body at a temperature, what to do?

The cause of pain in muscles, joints and bones during fever often lies in intoxication, that is, poisoning of the body ¹ . As “poisons” are bacterial toxins, products of inflammation and decay of tissues in the affected areas, substances that appear in the body due to metabolic disorders against the background of the disease ¹ . At the same time, the severity of symptoms of intoxication primarily depends on the type of infectious agent and the body’s ability to resist it ¹ .

Infectious diseases are more commonly caused by:

• viruses, such as influenza, parainfluenza, adenoviruses, hepatitis viruses, infectious mononucleosis, measles, varicella, and others;
• bacteria: staphylococcus, streptococcus, salmonella, tubercle bacillus, etc.;
• protozoa: amoeba and giardia;
• mushrooms ² .

The vast majority of all infections are acute respiratory viral diseases ^2.3 . Their pathogens can be:

• influenza viruses – about 15% of cases;
• parainfluenza – up to 50%;
• adenoviruses – up to 5%,
• respiratory syncytial virus – about 4%;
• enteroviruses – 1%;
• viral associations – about 23%;
• other viruses ⁴ .

All of these viruses can infect the mucous membrane of the upper respiratory tract. They penetrate the epithelial cells of the nasal cavity and pharynx, causing local inflammation and death of these cells ^3.4 . Absorption into the bloodstream of inflammation and decay products leads to the development of an intoxication syndrome, accompanied by body aches and fever, weakness, headache and other symptoms ^3.4 .

Intoxication is most pronounced in influenza ^4.5 . Its appearance precedes the symptoms of respiratory tract damage.

• Body temperature rises to 39-40 °C ⁴ chills occur.
• Starts to have a headache in the forehead and temples.
• Sudden sounds and movements aggravate headache.
• There is pain and pain in the eyes, aggravated by the movement of the eyeballs and pressure on them.
• Eyes become red and watery.
• Aches and pains in muscles and joints.
• Acute weakness and lethargy seizes the whole body ⁵ .

According to statistics, muscle pains accompany influenza in 40% of cases. Muscle weakness occurs in 87% of patients ⁴ .

Additional manifestations of intoxication may be vomiting, sometimes occurring in children, dizziness and fainting, which are more common in adolescents and elderly patients. Possible sleep disturbance in the form of insomnia ⁵ .

The manifestations of SARS caused by other respiratory viruses (not the influenza virus) are similar to each other ⁴ . According to the severity of the intoxication syndrome, these diseases are an order of magnitude inferior to influenza ⁴ .

So, rhinovirus infection , although it begins acutely, with sneezing and the appearance of copious watery discharge from the nose, is almost never accompanied by body aches and fever – the temperature rarely rises to 38 ° C, and sometimes even remains normal ⁴ .

With parainfluenza from the first day, sore throat, dry hacking cough, hoarseness are disturbed, and manifestations of intoxication are limited to a rise in temperature to 37. 5 ° C, mild weakness and headache ⁴ .

Adenovirus infection is characterized by high and prolonged fever, runny nose, conjunctivitis, sore throat associated with damage to the pharyngeal tonsils, swollen lymph nodes. However, despite the impressive set of symptoms and high temperature, the muscles and joints do not hurt – some weakness and heaviness in the head are possible ⁴ .

Respiratory syncytial infection also occurs with moderate intoxication: weakness, lethargy, headache, discomfort in the muscles of the body – but the resulting discomfort is not comparable to what happens with the flu. Along with the intoxication syndrome, there is a cough with shortness of breath, wheezing and viscous sputum ⁴ .

Fever and chills – features of the course

High fever accompanied by chills is often a symptom of influenza or SARS

High body temperature accompanied by chills is a symptom of influenza or SARS ^{1. 2} and helps to identify this disease.

Features of the course

Bacterial and viral infections, such as influenza or SARS, may be accompanied by symptoms such as fever and chills. ^1.2

An increase in body temperature is part of the body’s defense response to an active infection. ³ The anterior hypothalamus in the brain increases body temperature ⁴ up to 38°C or more, which gives the effect that we perceive as a fever. ⁵

Fever should not be confused with hyperthermia, which occurs when the body generates more heat than it can dissipate. ³ Hyperthermia is most often the result of wearing excess clothing that is inappropriate in hot weather or high humidity, or after strenuous physical activity. ⁴

Chill manifests itself in the form of rapid muscle contraction and relaxation, visually perceived as a shiver. Chills are often observed before the onset of fever. ²

• Questions you can ask your patient

  Ask the patient the following questions: ⁶

  • What are the main and accompanying symptoms?
  • What are the characteristics of these symptoms?
  • What was the treatment for fever and chills?
  • Have you ever had a fever and chills?
  • When did the problem occur?
  • What makes fever/chills worse and what makes them better?
  • Do you have other diseases? Are you taking other medications?

• The patient should be referred to a doctor for medical attention in the following cases

  The patient should be referred to a physician immediately if the pharmacy staff or caregiver observes the following:

  • Paleness; patchy skin lesions; skin, lips or tongue turned blue or ashy
  • No response to social cues
  • Patient has difficulty walking or staying awake
  • Decreased activity
  • Signs of acute respiratory distress syndrome such as nasal flaring, increased respiratory rate, wheezing in the chest, groaning and moderate or severe chest retraction
  • Palpitations
  • Reduced skin turgor
  • Body temperature above 39°C in children aged 3-6 months or body temperature above 38°C in children <3 months of age ⁷
  • Fever with rash
  • Flu-like symptoms that improve but then recur with fever and worse cough ⁸

Etiology

Learn about the causes of fever and chills.