10 Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Headache and fever are common symptoms of several kinds of illnesses. Mild types like the seasonal flu virus and allergies can cause these symptoms. Sometimes getting a fever can give you a headache.

Headache pain and fever are common in both adults and children. In some cases, they may signal that your body is fighting a more serious infection or illness. Read on for the different causes of a headache and fever.

A fever is a rise in your body temperature. This can happen when your body is fighting an infection. Viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites can cause infections.

Other illnesses and inflammation can also trigger a fever. You might have a fever if your body temperature is higher than 98.6°F (37°C). A fever can lead to changes in your body that may lead to a headache.

1. Allergies

If you’re allergic to pollen, dust, animal dander or other triggers, you may get a headache. Two kinds of headache pain are linked to allergies: migraine attacks and sinus headaches.

Allergies may cause headaches due to nasal or sinus congestion. This happens when an allergic reaction makes the passageways inside and around your nose and mouth inflamed and swollen.

Allergy headache symptoms may include:

• pain and pressure around your sinuses and eyes
• throbbing pain on one side of your head

Allergies don’t typically cause a fever. However, they can make you more likely to get a viral or bacterial infection. This can lead to a fever and more headache pain.

2. Colds and flu

Colds and the flu are caused by viruses. A viral infection may give you a fever and cause headaches. Getting the flu or catching a cold can also make migraine attacks and cluster headaches worse.

Cold and flu viruses may cause inflammation, swelling, and liquid to build up in your nose and sinuses. This leads to headache pain. You may also have other cold and flu symptoms, such as:

• runny nose
• sore throat
• chills
• fatigue
• nausea
• vomiting
• loss of appetite
• sore eyes
• pressure around eyes
• sensitivity to sound or light

3.

Bacterial infections

Some kinds of bacteria can cause infections in your lungs, airways, sinuses around your nose, kidneys, urinary tract and other areas.

Bacterial infections can also happen through a wound or a cavity in your tooth. Some bacterial infections can spread throughout the body. This may be life-threatening and requires urgent treatment.

Symptoms of a bacterial infection depend on what area of the body it’s in. Common symptoms include fever and headaches. Symptoms of a bacterial infection in the lungs also include:

• coughing
• phlegm production
• shortness of breath
• chills and shaking
• chest pain
• sweating
• fatigue
• muscle pain

4. Ear infection

Ear infections may be caused by a bacterial or viral infection. They’re more common in children than in teens and adults.

They can cause a buildup of liquid inside the middle ear. This causes pressure and pain in and around the ear.

Ear infections can cause headaches and fever. See your doctor if you or your child has an ear infection. Some cases can cause lasting damage to the ears. Symptoms include:

• ear pain
• fever of 100°F (37.8°C) or higher
• loss of appetite
• irritability
• loss of balance
• difficulty sleeping

5. Meningitis

Fever and headache pain are among the first symptoms of meningitis. This serious illness happens when an infection attacks the lining around the brain and spinal cord. A meningitis infection is usually caused by a virus, though bacterial and fungal infections can also be the cause.

Meningitis can happen to both children and adults. It can be life-threatening and requires urgent medical treatment. Look for these symptoms of meningitis:

• high fever
• severe headache
• stiff neck
• nausea
• vomiting
• sleepiness
• sensitivity to light
• listlessness
• difficulty waking up
• lack of appetite and thirst
• skin rash
• seizure

6.

Heatstroke

Heatstroke is also called sunstroke. Heatstroke happens when your body overheats. This can happen if you’re in a very warm place for too long. Exercising too much at a time in hot weather can also cause lead to heatstroke.

A heatstroke is an emergency condition. If not treated, it can lead to damage of the:

• brain
• heart
• kidney
• muscle

A fever of 104°F (40°C) or higher is the main symptom of heatstroke. You may also have a throbbing headache. Other symptoms of heatstroke include:

• nausea
• vomiting
• flushed skin
• hot, dry or moist skin
• rapid, shallow breathing
• racing heart rate
• confusion
• slurred speech
• delirium
• seizures
• fainting

7. Rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other kinds of inflammatory conditions may trigger fevers and headache pain. This kind of arthritis happens when your body mistakenly attacks your joints and other tissues.

About 40 percent of people with RA also have pain and other symptoms in areas such as the:

• eyes
• lungs
• heart
• kidneys
• nerves
• blood vessels

If you have RA, you may have a higher risk of infections. Some medications to treat RA and other autoimmune diseases can also raise your risk. This is because they work by slowing down immune system activity.

Infections, medications, and stress due to RA may indirectly cause fever and headaches. Other symptoms of RA include:

• stiffness
• pain
• joint swelling
• warm, tender joints
• fatigue
• loss of appetite

8. Medications

Certain medications can cause fever and headache pain. These include:

• antibiotics
• blood pressure–reducing drugs
• seizure medications

Taking too much pain-relieving medication, or taking it too often, can also cause headaches and other symptoms. These include migraine medications, opioids, and over-the-counter pain relief medications.

If you have a headache from medication overuse, you may also have:

• nausea
• restlessness
• irritability
• difficulty concentrating
• memory problems

9. Vaccinations

Fever and headache pain may happen after getting a vaccine. Most vaccines may cause a slight fever within 24 hours, and last one to two days. Some immunizations can cause a delayed reaction.

The MMR and chickenpox vaccines can cause a fever one to four weeks after getting it. You may get a fever and headache because your body is reacting to the vaccine as it builds immunity against disease. Other symptoms include:

• rash
• fatigue
• nausea
• vomiting
• loss of appetite

10. Cancer

Cancer and other serious illnesses can cause fever and headache pain. The American Cancer Society notes that it’s common for people with any type of cancer to have fevers. This is sometimes a sign that you also have an infection.

In other cases, changes in the body due to illness or a tumor can trigger a fever. Cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy can also cause fever and headaches.

Other side effects include nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite. This can cause dehydration and involve eating too little. These effects may also trigger fever and headache pain.

Treatment for headaches and fever depends on the cause. Bacterial infections may require antibiotics. Colds and flu viruses usually don’t require treatment and go away on their own.

Your doctor may recommend rest and over-the-counter medications for symptoms of colds, flu, other infections, and allergies. These include:

• pain relievers
• cough suppressants
• decongestants
• antihistamines
• saline or corticosteroid nasal sprays

In some cases, your doctor may prescribe:

• allergy shots
• antifungal medications
• antiviral medications
• migraine medication

At-home treatments may help relieve cold, flu, and allergy symptoms. These can help soothe headaches and reduce fevers.

• get plenty of rest
• drink warm drinks and plenty of fluids to thin mucus
• apply a cool, damp cloth to your eyes, face, and neck
• steam inhalation
• sit in a warm bath
• have a cool sponge bath
• drink warm broth or chicken soup
• eat frozen yogurt or a popsicle
• essential oils like eucalyptus and tea tree oil
• apply peppermint oil to your temples

Considerations for kids

Check with your child’s pediatrician before using essential oils. Some essential oils aren’t safe for children. If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, also check with your doctor before trying essential oils and other natural remedies.

Help prevent infections and allergies to reduce headaches and fevers. Some tips for yourself and your child include:

• avoiding allergens that trigger allergic reactions
• lining your nostrils with a very thin layer of petroleum jelly to help block allergens
• washing your face several times a day
• rinsing your mouth and nostrils
• applying a warm or cool, damp washcloth to your face several times a day
• teaching your child to avoid sharing bottles and drinks with other children
• teaching children how to correctly wash their hands
• washing toys and other items with warm soapy water, especially if your child has been ill
• getting a flu shot

In some cases, you may need treatment if you have a fever, headaches, or other symptoms. Get medical attention if you have:

• a temperature of 103°F (39.4°C) or higher
• a severe headache
• skin rash
• stiff neck or neck pain
• difficulty breathing
• abdominal pain
• pain when urinating
• mental fogginess or confusion
• frequent vomiting
• seizures or fainting

If your child has a fever and headache pain after receiving vaccinations, the Seattle Children’s Hospital advises that you should get urgent medical help if they:

• are less than 12 weeks old
• have a stiff neck
• aren’t moving their neck normally
• are crying for more than three hours
• have high-pitched crying for more than one hour
• aren’t crying or responding to you

Take your child to their pediatrician if:

• a fever lasts for more than three days
• redness around an immunization injection site is larger than three inches
• redness or red streaks on the skin happen more than two days after getting an immunization
• they’re touching or pulling at their ear
• they get blisters or lumps anywhere

Headaches and fever are caused by a range of illnesses. These include common and mild infections. Most of these illnesses get better on their own. Viral infections like a cold or flu can’t be cured with antibiotics.

In some cases, a headache and fever may be a sign of more serious illness. See your doctor if your headaches are more severe or feel different than they normally do. Also get medical help if your fever is higher than 103°F (39.4°C) or doesn’t improve with medication therapy.

Look for signs of serious infections like meningitis in children. Bacterial infections may need antibiotic treatment. Leaving them untreated can lead to life-threatening complications.

Meningitis Neck Pain: A Common Symptom

Meningitis refers to swelling in the membranes that surround your brain and spinal cord. This type of inflammation affects your nervous system. Meningitis can be viral or bacterial, and symptoms of meningitis can spread throughout your entire body.

Neck pain and stiffness can sometimes be a sign of meningitis. The inflammation of membranes at the base of your brain can cause this symptom, as well as severe headaches and cognitive difficulties.

Let’s take a look at how neck pain can be connected to meningitis, as well as when to be concerned.

Meningitis is a neurological condition that causes inflammation of the membranes around your brain and spinal cord. This condition is typically caused by a bacteria or a virus, but it can also be caused by a fungus, a parasite, or another underlying condition, such as cancer.

Viral meningitis can often go away with rest and fluids as the primary treatment. Bacterial meningitis tends to be far more severe and typically requires doctor-prescribed treatment as well as hospitalization.

It’s important to know that any type of meningitis can lead to complications.

Meningitis neck pain may feel like severe stiffness when you try to turn your neck or bend you neck forward. It may also feel like a deep, throbbing pain that extends from the bottom of your skull down into your upper back. This is caused by swelling located in the back of your neck, behind your skull, that you may be able to feel.

Neck pain from meningitis can be accompanied by a feeling of tenderness or soreness in the affected area. It may also come with a throbbing or persistent headache.

Meningitis refers to inflammation stemming from the meninges. The meninges are three layers of membranes that protect your brain and your spinal cord. These three membranes are called the pia mater, the arachnoid, and the dura mater.

The dura mater is the outermost membrane and the one that is sensitive to pain. If there is anything putting pressure on the dura mater membrane, your body often reacts with a severe throbbing headache.

The dura mater also stiffens when it is irritated. This is why the presence of an infection in your meninges is often enough to cause both neck pain and stiffness.

The symptoms of meningitis can affect your entire central nervous system. That means that the symptoms aren’t focused around your brain or neck, but can also affect your entire body.

Symptoms of meningitis can include:

• nausea
• muscle and joint pain
• sensitivity to light
• fever
• headache
• lethargy
• meningitis rash

You don’t need to have every symptom listed to have meningitis.

Meningitis can be diagnosed by testing the blood and spinal fluid of the person who is showing symptoms. There are also several other tests a doctor can conduct during an in-person exam to see if you are showing symptoms of meningitis.

Testing for meningitis may include:

• A comprehensive physical exam in a doctor’s office. During this exam, you’ll be asked about your symptoms, including any neck pain or stiffness. The doctor may look for something called Brudzinski’s sign through a test where your neck is slowly pulled forward.
• A blood test may be required to diagnose meningitis. This blood test checks for the types of bacteria to see if you have a blood infection that’s causing meningitis. The blood test can also check for elevated levels of certain proteins to see if you have an infection.
• Imaging tests, such as a CT scan, may be performed to detect any sign of swelling around your brain or spinal cord.
• The only test that can definitively diagnose meningitis is a lumbar puncture, which is sometimes called a spinal tap. During this procedure, a doctor uses a needle to draw out cerebrospinal fluid from your brain and spinal cord region. This fluid is then tested for antibodies, protein levels, and white blood cells, among other things.

The treatment for meningitis will depend on the underlying cause of the infection.

Viral meningitis can be treated with rest and drinking plenty of fluids. Over-the-counter medication may be recommended by your doctor to help with neck pain, headaches, and other symptoms. In more severe cases, you may be prescribed corticosteroids to reduce membrane swelling.

Bacterial meningitis usually requires hospitalization. You will most likely be treated with an intravenous (IV) drip of antibiotics as soon as you’re diagnosed. Corticosteroids are also frequently prescribed to help reduce brain swelling.

In some cases, your doctor will have to drain fluid from your sinuses to prevent the infection from progressing.

Anyone can contract the infection-causing agent and develop bacterial or viral meningitis. There are some people who are at a higher risk of infection than others. Those at elevated risk include:

• infants and children who attend school/daycare
• people who are over age 65
• people who live in group home settings or college dormitories
• people who are immunocompromised, such as those with HIV or diabetes
• people who take immunosuppressant drugs
• people who have alcohol use disorder

The outlook for people who have meningitis depends on the cause and severity of their infection.

People with a mild case of viral meningitis often make a full recovery within 2 to 4 weeks. Even if you have bacterial meningitis, early diagnosis and treatment with antibiotics can mean that you start to feel better fairly quickly.

In some cases of bacterial meningitis, the condition is not diagnosed in time to stop the infection from progressing. In these cases, neurological symptoms may take months to recover from.

Some people experience meningitis complications, including permanent damage to the brain’s hearing center, memory loss, and loss of coordination. If the infection continues to progress, it can be fatal. It’s critical that people with bacterial meningitis receive testing and treatment as soon as possible.

Is neck pain a common symptom of meningitis?

Neck pain and stiffness are common symptoms of meningitis. This is because the infection caused by meningitis is located within the membranes that protect your spinal cord and your brain.

What is Brudzinski’s sign?

When you have meningitis, you may experience involuntary movement in your lower body. This type of involuntary movement of the hips or knees as you raise your head is known as Brudzinski’s sign. It can indicate meningitis is present in your body.

When should you go to a doctor for neck pain?

You should see a doctor if you experience any of the following:

• limited range of motion
• significant throbbing pain that keeps you from performing daily activities
• persistent headaches connected to neck stiffness
• fever and fatigue in addition to neck stiffness, headaches, and joint pain

Neck pain and stiffness can be a symptom of meningitis. Having this symptom doesn’t mean that you have meningitis, but it’s something to be aware of.

Meningitis can be a serious condition that causes death or lasting brain damage. Early treatment and diagnosis will give you the best chance of making a full recovery. If you have neck pain in addition to other meningitis symptoms, you should see a doctor to get a proper diagnosis.

Pain pills for fever. | Motrin®

Olesya Vladislavovna.

Number of views: 794

Date last updated: 12/29/2022

Average read time: 5 minutes

9 0029Contents:

What happens in the body when you have a fever
Do I need to bring down the temperature?
Painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs for fever: what is important to know?

Often high numbers on the thermometer scale are combined with unpleasant symptoms ¹ – aching joints, muscle soreness or headache. Therefore, the choice of a drug that will normalize fever and quickly relieve pain in the body becomes a paramount task at such moments.

Let’s find out if you can take painkillers at a high temperature and when you can knock it down.

What happens in the body during fever

Normally, the body temperature of an adult, measured in the armpit, does not exceed 37. 1°C, on average it is 36.6-36.8°C ³ . It can vary depending on a number of factors:

• age – in older people it is lower than in young people ³ ;
• sex – in women, on average, half a degree above ³ ;
• nature of nutrition – increases after a rich meal and “heavy”, fatty food ³ ;
• time of day – the minimum values ​​are recorded at 4-7 o’clock, the maximum – at 17-19 ¹ ;
• taking certain medications , for example, during treatment with glucocorticosteroid hormones ³ .

Next, we will talk about those cases of temperature increase that are associated with the ingestion and / or formation of pyrogenic substances in the body, that is, fever as a defense mechanism ^2,4 , which has been formed in the process of evolution over millennia ³ .

Fever is first mentioned in Sumerian cuneiform writings. At different times, ancient scientists explained its appearance by an excess of bile, friction of blood against vessels, or putrefaction processes ³ .

Today, science knows for sure that fever is provoked by pyrogens – the smallest molecules that can affect the thermoregulatory center in the brain ² . There are 2 types of pyrogens:

• Infectious are protein particles found in bacteria, viruses, fungi and other microorganisms. It is infectious agents that usually cause an increase in body temperature ² .
• Non-infectious , which includes substances secreted by immune cells ¹ in response to various injuries ³ – destruction of tissues in trauma, inflammation and allergies, transfusion of blood and blood substitutes, disintegration of tumors and administration of sera and vaccines ² .

Pyrogens penetrate the brain tissues and change the work of the thermoregulation center, so the normal temperature of the blood and tissue fluid begins to be perceived as insufficient, and the sensitivity of cold receptors increases. This leads to a shift in the temperature balance – the production of “internal” heat increases, and its return to the external environment decreases. A similar reaction is manifested by coldness and pallor of the skin, as well as chills ² .

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Do I need to lower the temperature?

Despite the fact that fever is an unpleasant phenomenon, it is necessary to neutralize aggression factors and increase the body’s defenses ² .

There are several degrees of fever ¹ :

• subfebrile — 37.2°С to 38°С;
• febrile – 38.1-39°С;
• pyretic – 39.1-40°С;
• hyperpyretic – 40 ° C and above.

High temperature stimulates the production of protective substances and antibodies, inhibits the ability of pathogenic microorganisms to reproduce. This is especially true if fever is one of the manifestations of an infectious disease ¹ .

However, along with the protective effect, fever also has negative effects ² :

• direct damaging effects of toxins0040 ;
• severe tolerance in some people ² ;
• overload of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems by increasing the frequency of breathing and heartbeat ¹ ;
• shift in acid-base balance, loss of trace elements ¹ ;
• risk of seizures ² ;
• coagulation destabilization ² .

Bring down the temperature only when prescribed by a doctor. Uncontrolled use of antipyretics for infections can reduce the activity of immune responses and slow down recovery ² .

As a rule, fever should be fought when the thermometer values ​​are above 38.5°C ⁵ . However, sometimes doctors recommend that adults take antipyretics as early as 38.5°C, and even at lower temperatures if the person does not tolerate fever well or suffers from pain in the muscles and joints ^5.6 :

Intensive antipyretic therapy is also indicated :

• in patients older than 60 years ⁶ ;
• in the presence of concomitant diseases (severe diabetes mellitus or circulatory failure) ^2.6 ;
• if the rise in temperature was accompanied by seizures in the past ⁶ .

To accurately determine body temperature, it must be measured correctly. Recall the basic rules of thermometry ¹ :

• measurement duration is 5-7 minutes;
• the skin in the armpit should be dry, the error in the presence of sweat can reach 0.5 ° C;
• in some cases, body temperature should be determined every 2-3 hours.

Painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs for fever: what is important to know?

If you have a fever, there can be many reasons. Sometimes serious, complex treatment is required: it is necessary to fight not only with fever and pain, but also with its cause. Therefore, consultation with a specialist in all cases is required.

The main goal of therapy for fever is inhibition of the formation of internal pyrogens ² . The chain of reactions that leads to their formation is blocked by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) ² .

The action of NSAIDs is based on their ability to inhibit cyclooxygenase (COX), an enzyme formed under the influence of pyrogens. COX is involved in the synthesis of prostaglandins, which stimulate inflammation, excite pain receptors and affect the thermoregulatory center ⁸ . Thus, by suppressing COX, the drugs of this group have 3 actions at once – analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic ⁸ . Therefore, NSAIDs are often called painkillers that reduce fever.

Naproxen ¹¹ is one of the most popular NSAIDs, whose efficacy and high safety profile have been confirmed in more than 60 clinical trials worldwide. Naproxen is the active ingredient in Motrin®. The drug is approved for use by adults and children from 15 years of age. Motrin® has an antipyretic effect in fevers, and also helps with pain, body aches and discomfort, which are often bothered by fever associated with flu and colds ¹⁰ . One dose of Motrin® is sufficient up to 12 hours ¹² .

Despite the availability of drugs, you cannot take them yourself. Taking pills with analgesic, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory effects can “mask” the manifestations of the disease, and then the development of complications, for example, the addition of a bacterial infection to a viral one, will be difficult to notice in time ⁷ . Therefore, if the fever persists or returns after a while while taking the drug, contact your physician ¹⁰ . The doctor will assess the need for the drug, consider possible contraindications and restrictions, and determine the optimal dosing regimen.

The information in this article is for reference only and does not replace professional medical advice. For diagnosis and treatment, contact a qualified specialist.

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References:

1. E.S. Tikhonova, Fever of unknown origin / E.S. Tikhonova, M.A. Dugina, Yu.N.
2. P. F. Litvitsky. Violations of the thermal balance of the body. Fever / Questions of modern pediatrics, 2009, No. 8 (6), S. 55-63.
3. V. Delyagin. PATHOGENESIS OF FEVER AND PATHOGENETICALLY JUSTIFIED CHOICE OF ANTIPYRETIC MEDICINES / Vrach, 2016, No. 12, S. 67-71.
4. English-Russian glossary of basic terms in vaccinology and immunization. WHO, 2009, 110 pp.
5. Acute respiratory viral infections (ARVI) in adults. Clinical guidelines. NC “National Scientific Society of Infectionists”. 2019. 53 p.
6. Algorithms for providing emergency medical care outside a medical organization: a manual for medical workers of field ambulance teams. – St. Petersburg. : IP Shevchenko V.I., 2018. – 158 p.
7. Karateev A.E., Nasonov E.L., Lila A.M. Do NSAIDs cause specific complications in COVID-19? / Scientific and practical rheumatology, 2020, No.