Stave Off Viral Fever Symptoms With These Fitness & Nutrition Tips

Fever is often a sign of your body fighting off an infection. Viruses are infection-causing pathogens that can cause viral fevers. Many types of viral infections can affect an individual. Therefore, it is imperative to lead a healthy lifestyle to keep viral fever at bay.

What you need to know:

• Viral fever symptoms
• Causes of viral fever
• Viral fever treatment
• How to prevent viral fever infection?

Viral fever symptoms

Viral fever is indicated by a temperature accompanied by cough, cold, and body aches. The typical viral fever symptoms include:

• Temperature of 99°F – 103°F (37.2°C – 39°C)
• Chills and shivering
• Muscle aches
• Sweating
• Headache
• Loss of appetite
• Cough and cold
• Dehydration

Causes of viral fever

Here are some common causes of viral fever:

• Viruses can be transmitted through air droplets of an infected person spread by talking, coughing, and sneezing without covering their face. Inhaling these droplets can increase the risk of viral fever.
• Consuming contaminated food items (street food or junk food) can cause food indigestion or gastrointestinal issues, leading to infections.
• Infections by the influenza virus or mosquitoes breeding on stagnant water during the monsoon season can cause diseases like malaria and dengue. Thus, individuals can contract viral fever from mosquito bites as well.
• Infections such as viral fever, HIV, and hepatitis B can result from a blood transfusion.

Viral fever treatment

Most viral fevers last around 3-4 days. If a person’s condition does not normalize, there are treatments available. Besides doctor-prescribed medicines and antibiotics, some home viral fever treatment remedies include:

• Fresh fruit juices to replenish your body
• Warm soups and vegetable broths
• Coconut water
• Coriander or ginger tea
• Tulsi leaves in hot water

How to prevent viral fever infection?

Most viral infections have to take their course, and the body’s immune system has to fight them off. Let us look at the following ways to manage and prevent viral fever infection:

• Wash your hands: Our hands come in contact with many surfaces where we can pick up germs. Therefore, wash our hands well with soap before and after consuming food to prevent an infection. Also, avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with dirty unwashed hands.
• Cover your mouth and nose: Covering your mouth and nose is important when you cough or sneeze or when someone around you does. Placing tissue or handkerchief over your mouth and nose prevents you from breathing in their germs and catching an infection. If there is an increase in viral fever cases, it is a good idea to wear a germ-prevention face mask.
• Avoid direct contact with a sick person: Viral infections are contagious and can be passed on quickly. So, avoid direct contact with the patient and keep children away from anyone who shows symptoms because their immunity is still not fully developed. If you have been in close contact while caring for a sick family member, follow the steps mentioned above to prevent catching the infection.
• Prevent mosquito bites: Use mosquito repellent and a mosquito net while sleeping, and keep the doors and windows of your home shut after sunset to reduce the possibility of mosquito bites.

Managing a viral fever

Sometimes, despite taking all possible precautions, you can still catch an infection. If you start showing the symptoms of a viral infection, consult a doctor and get tested to determine the type of infection. The doctor will usually prescribe medication to control the fever and keep your strength up. Apart from the prescribed treatment, here are a few ways to take care of yourself or a family member to recover quickly:

• Use an ice pack to keep the fever under control.
• Eat nourishing foods to keep your strength up and boost your immunity.
• It is essential to stay hydrated, so drink plenty of water and take electrolytes that are a mixture of salts and sugar.
• Get plenty of rest so that your body has a chance to fight the infection.

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