Protracted fever – causes, symptoms & therapy

Fever is considered delayed if it is not cured and the symptoms persist for more than one week to ten days. Patients with fever have to do without sport and take it easy. If normal everyday life, including work, is continued, diseases such as pneumonia , bronchitis or heart muscle inflammation can be the result. According to the rule of thumb, you have to avoid sporting activities and strenuous work for at least one week per day with a fever. Due to the increased body temperature, the general condition is reduced and the immune system is more susceptible to disorders.

causes

  Any inflammation that occurs in the body can lead to fever. Bacteria , viruses or fungi are almost always the cause of the rise in body temperature. Fever is often harmless. Prolonged fever is dangerous because it can lead to undesirable secondary diseases. The most common causes of delayed fever are serious colds or viral flu .Other possible causes are hormonal disorders. Here the main focus is on the thyroid . Tumors are very low in the list of causes. Fever is very rarely the first symptom of an existing cancer. Infectious diseases of the skin and soft tissues occasionally trigger a fever reaction. Abscesses or inflamed boils in particular can trigger the fever reaction.

Wound infections can occur after surgical interventions and are then associated with local inflammatory reactions. If the fever is delayed, there is a risk of the infection spreading. Rarely, fever occurs due to drug side effects. In this case it is not an immune reaction to bacteria or viruses, but a systemic side effect. The fever disappears when the offending drug is stopped.

symptoms and course

Typical symptoms of a delayed fever:

• Fever

• body aches

• chills

• exhaustion

• Headache

• dizziness

If a fever occurs, different symptoms are triggered. Characteristic is a general weakness that can occur together with body aches. Those affected may develop chills at first. This is triggered because the body defends itself against the rise in temperature. If the fever drops, the patient begins to sweat. Depending on the temperature, other symptoms may appear.

Those affected with a body temperature of 39 degrees suffer from dizziness, headaches and an increased heart rate. If the fever is delayed or suppressed, there is often a subjective improvement in the first few days. The body uses its power reserves. If these are exhausted, various diseases can come to light. Colds caused by viruses can be made worse by bacterial superinfection . The result can be pneumonia or heart muscle inflammation.

When to the doctor?

If fever occurs without an identifiable cause, it must not be ignored. Those affected should see a doctor if the cause of the fever cannot be identified and the temperature has been elevated for more than 24 hours. In the context of a cold, a visit to the doctor is obsolete if the temperature remains below 40 degrees and sufficient rest is provided. If further symptoms appear after a feverish illness, although the cause has already passed, a doctor’s visit should be made.

The reason is that secondary diseases sometimes only appear when the causative disease is no longer present. The same applies if the cause of the fever does not go away. Colds that last longer than ten days and are accompanied by fever are always a reason to see a doctor.

Diagnose

For the purpose of diagnosis, the doctor asks the patient about past illnesses. The symptoms of delayed fever are not clear. Many patients complain of weakness, shortness of breath , and extreme fatigue . In order to track down the cause, the doctor analyzes the past few weeks. A cold that has gone through with little or no rest period indicates a delayed fever. Depending on the suspicion, further investigations are carried out.

If heart muscle inflammation is suspected as a result of the prolonged fever, a cardiological presentation is made. With the help of a heart ultrasound, the doctor can see if the heart muscle is damaged. Initial indications can be obtained from an echocardiogram (ECG) . If pneumonia is suspected, the doctor will order an X-ray. Wound infections or inflammation of the skin and soft tissues can usually be recognized by visual diagnostics.

complications

Prolonged fever does not always result in complications. However, the risk of suffering a secondary disease is high. The most common cause is heart muscle inflammation, which can throw the patient out of everyday life for weeks. The result is fatigue, leaden limbs, physical weakness and shortness of breath under stress. The heart muscle inflammation as a complication can heal without consequences. In the worst case, however, it can also lead to death. A common risk is the development of heart failure due to the destruction of the heart muscle. Pneumonia can also occur as a result of delayed fever. It requires antibiotic treatment and carries the risk of death in weakened people.

treatment and therapy

The treatment of delayed fever depends on the consequences. In any case, the patient must observe strict bed rest so that the body regains strength. Bacterial complications usually have to be treated with antibiotics . If a heart muscle inflammation occurs, physical protection is absolutely necessary. Exercising or heavy work can throw the heart out of rhythm and lead to death from abnormal heart rhythms . Increasing fluid intake can help the body heal. The supply of electrolytes also makes sense if important minerals have been sweated out as a result of the fever.

outlook and prognosis

How well the body copes with delayed fever depends on the overall picture. Already weakened people with previous illnesses have a higher risk of long-term effects. But healthy people also take a risk if they spread fever. At the latest when a dangerous secondary disease, such as heart muscle inflammation, has come to light, there is a great danger. Only in close cooperation between doctor and patient is it possible to improve the prognosis. In the case of HME, this means that the patient has to be absolutely calm. If he doesn’t comply, he jeopardizes the entire recovery process.

prevention

Prolonged fever can be avoided by curing illnesses. As soon as the body reacts with a fever, it needs a break. Sports, heavy work and everyday activities must be suspended with a fever. Even seemingly simple tasks, like running the household, are too strenuous for a feverish patient. Anyone who basically cures illnesses and waits a few days after the fever has gone down can usually prevent a fever that is delayed. This also applies if the general condition is not restricted and the person concerned actually feels well. If the fever lasts longer than a week to ten days, a doctor’s visit is essential. The same applies to fever without a recognizable cause.