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by Agastya Volz,
India is a country filled with a variety of sanitation levels in each state, a densely packed population, and a climate that has been on the decline for quite some time now. All the factors above make India a very big hotspot for diseases and infections alike, and contracting a fever is often the very first sign of an unhealthy body.
Now, a regular fever is just the body’s immune system working overtime to combat any infections that have entered your body through external means, and are relatively harmless for you. It only starts to become a problem once the fever starts to showcase some very serious conditions that greatly impact the body and requires some immediate medical intervention as soon as possible.
With how many fevers there can occur in India, knowing what each type of fever can do to your body and the best ways to counteract all of them before they surge out of hand and seeking the correct treatment for said fever in the most time-effective manner.
Dengue fever is caused by the Dengue Virus, which is transmitted through the bite of a mosquito known as Aedes Aegypti. This mosquito is mostly seen during the peak morning hours to the setting sun in the evening. This particular mosquito is also spread out and very common during the monsoon and post monsoon months.
· Patients who have been bitten by a Dengue-infected mosquito have shown to contract a high-grade fever with temperatures exceeding 104 Degrees Fahrenheit.
· They also sometimes experience sharp joint and muscle pain that is almost unbearable. This is also known as “Breakbone” fever by medical professionals.
· Intense headaches that affect patients with Dengue have been known to have an effect behind the eyes.
· Many cases of Dengue fever have also reported cases of skin rash that have been known to arrive around 3-4 days after the fever first came into contact with the patient.
· Feeling Nauseous, experiencing frequent vomiting and continuous signs of fatigue can all have relations to the Dengue fever.
· Dengue fever can also alter the platelet count within the body’s bloodstream to lower significantly to the point where bruising and bleeding are all common and occur on a frequent basis.
Getting treatment for Dengue can be a bit tricky, as it does not have any anti-viral medication for it at this moment. There are several ways in managing Dengue, such as getting ample amounts of rest, having a bottle of water near you at all times for a properly hydrated body, and taking medicines such as paracetamol that can reduce the pain and sustain the fever. Any aspirin and ibuprofen must be avoided and not consumed. There have also been cases of Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever as well as Dengue Shock Syndrome where the need for hospitalization is absolutely necessary for appropriate treatment.
Malaria is caused by a parasite known as Plasmodium and is contracted through a mosquito variant known as Anopheles. This type of mosquito thrives in areas where stagnant water is present, and lays its eggs next to them to grow. It is also mostly found in very tropical areas where warmth and humidity are also present at large.
· Experiencing constant fevers alongside chills and rigors has been a common early symptom for contracting Malaria.
· After the fever has slowly died down, there will be an increase in sweating that continues profusely with no sign of stopping.
· Alongside the fever and sweating, the patient also has severe headaches, body aches and even a constant feeling of nausea washing over them.
· Accompanying these symptoms are also instantaneous bouts of drowsiness, dizziness and tiredness that follow along.
· Lastly, there are also chances of getting an enlarged spleen or even signs of jaundice.
There are specific treatments that are catered to patients with Malaria with the help of Anti-Malarial drugs such as chloroquine, artemisinin-based combination Therapies (ACTs), and Primaquine, although this is dependent on what type of Malaria the patient has. One very vital test that is required for a patient who may have potential signs of Malaria is a thorough diagnosis by a blood test to ensure what kind of Malaria they may have contracted.
Typhoid fever is contracted by Salmonella Typhi, a type of bacterial infection that is found in contaminated food and water.
· Patients who have contracted Typhoid Fever have shown major signs of prolonged high fevers which gradually increase as the fever worsens.
· There is a very apparent discomfort in the abdominal section of the patient which has led to constipation and diarrhea.
· Typhoid fever has also had major cases of fatigue, an overwhelming sense of weakness and a loss of appetite for several days.
· The patient’s tongue has a coated layer of bacteria on it and at times also has flat, rose-colored spots that form from a rash.
· In case Typhoid happens to continue over to some of its more advanced stages, then the chances of getting mental confusion as to “where you might be” and “what might be happening” start to happen.
Most of the time, typhoid is treated with simple antibiotics such as azithromycin and ceftriaxone. To combat Typhoid fever, the patient must also administer a balanced diet that is centered on soft food items and appropriate hydration for the body to fight back naturally. In case there has been no treatment, the Fever can persist for weeks on end, getting worse each passing day with further complications that have serious repercussions.
Chikungunya is another mosquito-bite disease that happens to be viral. Chikungunya is also a disease that has some similarities to Dengue fever but is more centralized over its intense joint pain symptoms.
· Patients who have Chikungunya are confirmed to have an almost immediate high fever after they have contracted the disease.
· The most notable symptom for this fever has to be the relentless pain that occurs on joints, especially those that are used more often than others on a daily basis such as hands, legs and even wrists.
· Patients can also experience extreme pain in their muscles and also extensive amounts of fatigue.
· Chikungunya has also been responsible for giving your body rashes and red eyes as another of its symptoms.
There is unfortunately no effective treatment against Chikungunya at this moment in time. It is advised that patients should not overexert themselves and rest as much as possible, while also having plenty of fluids in the body and simply take paracetamol and ibuprofen as a way to diminish the pain and fever persisting in their body. Joint pain can also persist for a very long time as well.
Probably one of the most common infections in the world, The Viral Fever has affected the entire world with its most common variant being the common Flu. Viral Fever is also the number one reason why many individuals are bedridden in urban households.
· Viral Fevers are always accompanied by either a mid-grade fever or a high grade fever.
· Viral Fevers also have some of the most common attributes for a sick individual such as a very sore throat, a sore throat, a terrible cough or a very runny nose.
· The patient can also experience a body ache or fatigue related to the Viral Fever in their bodies.
· There are also severe headaches that can cause a lot of pain and even swellings in some cases of Viral Fevers.
· There are some occasions where the patient experiences Diarrhea and skin rashes as a result of a Viral Fever.
In most cases, Viral Fevers are able to limit themselves, and will go away completely after a couple of days filled with rest, plenty of hydration and counter medications such as paracetamol. But if the symptoms manage to stay for at least 5 days, it would be recommended to go for a doctor’s assessment of the situation.
One of the more serious fevers present in India, the Novel Corona virus, also known scientifically as SARS Cov-2, was a global pandemic for a year and a half, starting in the beginning of 2020 and ending in Late 2021 – Early 2022. It is still very active in the world despite having plenty of vaccines against it and is developing multiple variants over time through constant evolution towards its environment.
· The most common symptom that happens in COVID-19 is the high grade fever, which causes the body’s internal temperature to surge upwards to at most 104 Degrees Fahrenheit.
· COVID-19’s other prominent symptom is its contagious dry cough and sore throat and is meant to be covered in a mask to prevent it from spreading.
· The loss of both taste and smell is an important symptom for COVID-19, and only worsens over time if it is not taken care of.
· Shortness of Breath is also a prominent symptom that is connected to COVID-19.
· The body also starts to experience pains and aches along with extreme bouts of fatigue that are symptoms of COVID-19.
· In some of the more severe and serious cases, some patients have also experienced very low amounts of oxygen entering their bodies and pneumonia as an after-effect of COVID-19.
In case the patient has very little to mild symptoms for COVID-19, then simply being at their home and taking adequate amounts of rest, hydration and even medications such as paracetamol can be used for treating it. However, for more serious cases, it is recommended to go to a hospital with oxygen support, several steroids to help combat the virus and administer antiviral drugs into your body such as remdesivir.
Swine Flu is one strain of the Influenza virus that is extremely contagious and has the capability of spreading at a rapid pace. Swine Flu has been active in areas where there are massive crowds, as it becomes a lot easier to transfer Swine Flu from one person to many people.
· Patients suddenly experience a surge in body temperature and a high-grade fever due to the Swine Flu present in their bodies.
· Having a very dry cough and a sore throat are also very common symptoms for Swine Flu.
· Experiencing severe body aches and chills that can affect your daily life.
· There are instances where the nose can get clogged with dust and mucus, which can lead to a lot of uncomfortable experiences moving forward due to Swine Flu.
· Nausea and vomiting are also common indicators of Swine Flu in the body.
There are some medicinal drugs that are very effective if they have been given at a much earlier time, such as oseltamivir. There are also plenty of Flu vaccines that have been prepared to counteract the Swine Flu, with the vaccine against H1N1 being one of them and are recommended by medical professionals to be given to groups that are vulnerable to Swine Flu.
Tuberculosis is considered to be one of the more dangerous diseases and must be treated with great care. Tuberculosis is known for its impact on the functionality of the lungs and how it can shift to different parts of the body as well
· There is a persistent low-grade fever that always occurs during the night time which stays there for a while.
· The patient also experiences a lot of sweating during the night which is not affected by any outdoor elements.
· There are also multiple bouts of a chronic cough that happens with or without blood that comes from the constant and violent coughing.
· There are chances of a TB patient having a lot of weight inexplicably lost as one of its symptoms.
· Lastly, one of the more common symptoms is that patients who have contracted TB have felt an overwhelming amount of weakness and fatigue since it started.
Tuberculosis is required to have a very strict course of several antibiotics that last around 6-9 months. There needs to be a DOTS course (Directly Observed Treatment Shorts course), which happens to be a government sanctioned TB Treatment Protocol that is strictly monitored in India.
This is an autoimmune condition that occurs when there has been an unexplained complication for an untreated strep throat, which has led to a bit of a fever that affects the body of children and teenagers who are the most likely to get Rheumatic Fever.
· Having a high grade fever is one of the earlier indicators of Rheumatic Fever.
· There can be lots of pain and swelling in joints that are in relation to Rheumatic Fever, such as ankles and joints.
· An uncontrollable skin rash also starts to develop.
· Experiencing extreme amounts of fatigue while combating Rheumatic fever
· There have also been heart inflammations (Carditis) that can be troublesome if left alone.
Rheumatic Fever has some treatment plans such as consuming antibiotics to get rid of any strep throat complications. It also gets rid of unnecessary steroids and aspirin still in their body. There are some long-lasting antibiotics that are given to patients that are designed for preventing the reoccurrence of Rheumatic Fever.
This fever is caused when a bacterium that thrives in openly flooded areas and areas filled with poor sanitation; the Leptospira comes into contact with an unsuspecting individual.
· The patient suddenly goes through an unexpectedly high fever.
· Experiences particularly sharp pain in the muscles (specifically around the lower back of the body as well as the calves.)
· The patient has red eyes.
· Continuous vomiting and diarrhea for an untold amount of time.
· There are also some very rare instances where the patient exhibits Jaundice and its complications alongside Leptospirosis.
To prevent any further onset of Leptospirosis, taking multiple early diagnosis treatments using doxycycline and penicillin is considered to be a very high priority. In case some cases happen to get out of hand, hospitalization and IV antibiotics are also a prerequisite.
Mites with the disease Scrub Typhus after they have bitten a victim are often found in forest and rural areas where people are both living and working there.
· There are high chances of receiving a high fever from a mite bite that contains Scrub Typhus.
· There also happens to be a small yet noticeable black scab mark where the mite has bitten into the skin, known as an (Eschar).
· The lymph nodes swell up due to the after-effects of the mite bite.
· There are also severe body aches and headaches that occur every now and then.
It is recommended to have Doxyxycline, as it has been medically approved to provide protection against Scrub Typhus. In case the diagnosis has been done early, then there is a rather quick recovery time as well, but in case there are delays, the chances of having lung and brain complications get higher with each passing day.
This fever is caused by Salmonella Paratyphi, which gives rise to Enteric fever, which in most cases is referred to as a tined down version of typhoid, but is known for having many similar symptoms.
· Fever starts at low-grade before progressively making its way to high-grade if not taken care of in a quick and efficient manner.
· Severe abdominal discomfort is also present.
· Experiencing headaches and having a loss of appetite for a marginal amount of time is also expected.
· Diarrhea and constipation can also be experienced during Enteric Fever.
To treat Paratyphoid, there needs to be appropriate care and the proper antibiotics for ensuring a steadfast recovery. The same treatments that are required for typhoid, such as maintaining proper hygiene and regularly drinking safe water are some of the best preventive measures for keeping Paratyphoid out of the system.
While not every fever is considered serious and medical attention is needed, there still needs to be some consultation with a family doctor regarding a few things before considering treatment, such as:
· The Fever has lasted more than 72 hours or 3 days
· Temperatures exceeding the adequate temperature of the body (102 Degrees Fahrenheit) continuously.
· Having rashes, vomiting, feeling breathless all the time, feeling confused, and profuse bleeding happening unusually.
· Travelled to an area that is or had an outbreak of diseases recently.
· Immunocompromised or having any pre-existing conditions.
A fever is the body’s way of fighting back against any disease or viral infection by raising the temperature of the body in an effort to subdue it. However, this can also lead to several other complications if they are not tended to immediately, and India is a hotspot for infections due to the nature of its climate, massive mosquito population and potential illnesses that are derived from fevers are commonplace and sometimes lead to very serious complications. The best way to counteract these issues is simply be well informed, be up to date with your hygiene, use any type of protection against mosquitoes as possible, ensure a clean drinking space to refill only pure and clean water is available, and always have a family doctor on standby, as self-medicating can only lead to further complications if you do not have the correct medical advice to follow.