Viral Fever Treatment: Procedure, Cost and Side Effects

Viral fever is caused mainly due to infections by viruses and is most frequent in children, adults as well as in the elderly. It normally does not pose any serious threat for health and goes away without any medical intervention. The fever is not actually an illness but a symptom of the infection caused by the virus anywhere in the body as in intestines or trachea or lungs etc. the fever is considered a sign of the immune system that fights against the viruses and burn them off. Viral fever is communicable and occurs when the virus gets transmitted from one person to the other through contact with each other’s body fluids as in coughs, yawns or sneezes that eject minute fluid droplets in the air. There is no such antibiotic for treating a viral fever and the physician might prescribe you with some fever reducers and analgesics as pain relievers. You can also opt for over-the-counter medications. Viral fever is characterised with high body temperature, headache and body ache, weakness, chills, fatigue, running nose, nasal and chest congestion, cough, vomiting, diarrhoea, painful tonsils etc. antibiotics can be prescribed for treating any secondary infection that might occur during the fever. Adequate bed rest and fluid intake is a must in a viral fever. Complications like pneumonia should be treated by clearing respiratory secretions and using a ventilator in case of sever hypoxia and treatment for gastroenteritis due viral fever can be treated with anti-motility agents. You can use a nasal decongestant in case of respiratory infection.

Treatment of a viral fever is done with the help of anti-pyretic and analgesic drugs for reducing fever and for alleviating pains respectively. If the physician prescribes antibiotics for treating secondary infections like that of the intestines or lungs, the course must be completed diligently or else antibiotic resistant bacteria might get created. Over-the-counter medicines like acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen can be recommended by the physician. The medications must not be taken too much as high doses can cause liver and kidney damage and extreme overdose can be fatal. Prescription medications like antibiotics are given by doctors if a bacterial infection like pneumonia or strep throat is also suspected. Certain antiviral drugs are also used for treating viral fever. Infants with viral fever must be admitted to the hospital for treatment without making any delay and may require intravenous medications and continuous monitoring. Viral fever in children needs to be treated more cautiously. Traditional method of wet sponge to bring down fever must be used and can be repeated for a several times a day. Plenty of fluids like water and soup must be provided to alleviate cough and sore throat, ORS should also be given to avoid dehydration, basic hygiene must be maintained, and steam must be provided for inhalation by the child with congested lungs.

Person affected by viral infection that has caused high fever accompanied by joint pains, cough, headache, dizziness, fatigue along with some complications like pneumonia, diarrhoea etc. are eligible for viral fever treatment. Also infants, especially less than 28 days must be admitted to a hospital to treat viral fever and regular monitoring of health.

Viral fever usually does not require extensive treatment by physician. So, if it is characterised only by high body temperature and minor cough and cold, treatment from a doctor or a hospital is not necessary and can be managed by home remedies.

You must be very careful in taking the medicines for viral fever treatment. High doses or prolonged use of drugs like ibuprofane or acetaminophen can cause kidney and liver damage. Very high doses can even be fatal in some cases. Aspirin should be a ‘no’ for treating viral fever in children as it may activate a potentially fatal disorder called Reye’s syndrome. Self-medication also must be avoided because if you go for a strong antibiotic without consulting your doctor, it may not have any effect on the virus but would make you more vulnerable to secondary infections. This happens because antibiotics are used in destroying bacteria and not virus.

Post treatment guideline for viral fever treatment is ample amount of rest and lot of fluid intake like water, soup; very light foods like khichdi and simple dal roti to avoid a bad stomach because during a viral infection the immunity of the body get lowered and also becomes difficult for the digestive system to function appropriately with heavy foods. Some home remedies can also be used for alleviating sore throat after the treatment like tea with tulsi leaves and ginger crushed, fenugreek water, black pepper etc. Also, crowded places must be avoided, hand must be washed regularly before having any meal and a clean handkerchief must be used while coughing, yawning and sneezing.

For a viral fever to recover it takes only about a week. The fatigue may remain for another 2-3 weeks.

The cost of viral fever treatment in India is quite nominal and ranges from about Rs. 200 to Rs. 1000 including both consultation and medication.

Viral fever is not a disease but an infection caused due to viruses through both air and water. Treatment of viral fever simply alleviates the symptoms but does not help in stopping it to recur. So, a viral fever can occur again if infected with virus through air or water depending upon the body’s immunity.

Alternatives to viral fever treatment are home remedies which are quite effective in most cases. Common home remedies for treatment include garlic as it has antiviral properties and treat respiratory infections. Honey acts as a cough suppressant as it contains antiviral compounds and is very effective if consumed with tulsi leaves or crushed ginger. Both ginger and tulsi works extremely well in treating cough and sore throat for their anti-inflammatory properties. You can also opt for several yoga postures like Sukhasana (Easy pose), Marjaryasana (Cat pose), Trikonasana (triangle pose) etc. for the treatment of viral fever.