The combination of fever and body aches is usually caused by a bacterial or viral infection, with the most common causes being viruses such as colds and flu. Gastroenteritis due to viruses (stomach flu), pneumonia (usually bacterial), and urinary tract infections (bacteria) also cause fever and body aches. Bacterial infections can be treated with antibiotics, but viruses are usually left to heal on their own. Muscle pain that is not accompanied by fever has many explanations, and treatment depends on the cause. Regardless, there are steps you can take to minimize discomfort and speed up the recovery process.
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Method 1 of 3: Treating Muscle Aches With Fever with Medical Assistance
Step 1. Visit a doctor
If you experience signs of fever accompanied by body aches, the first thing to do is to contact your doctor. Doctors can diagnose the cause and recommend treatment. Treatment for muscle pain accompanied by fever usually requires professional intervention.
- Insect or tick bites can cause various diseases, such as Lyme, which must be treated by a doctor.
- Changing medications can trigger flu-like symptoms. Never change medication on your own without consulting your doctor.
- Metabolic disease is usually indicated by milder pain and increases with exercise. This condition should be treated by a doctor.
Step 2. Take ibuprofen or acetaminophen (Tylenol)
Both of these over-the-counter medications help reduce fever and reduce body aches. Ibuprofen prevents an increase in body temperature and lowers levels of the hormone "prostaglandin" which causes pain and causes inflammation. Acetaminophen reduces pain in the central nervous system and reduces fever, but does not reduce inflammation. Taking the two drugs alternately may be more effective at dealing with fever and body aches than choosing one or the other.
- Do not double the dose. Follow the directions on the packaging.
- Taking two drugs interchangeably can prevent negative side effects caused by taking too much of one drug.
- The use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can cause gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding, such as gastritis and peptic ulcers. This is because NSAIDs damage the protective lining in the stomach.
Step 3. Do not give aspirin to children
Although safe for adults, aspirin use in children can cause Reye's syndrome-a serious brain and liver disease following the flu or chickenpox. This condition can be fatal. If you suspect your child has it, seek immediate medical attention. Symptoms that appear as soon as your child takes aspirin include:
- Sluggish
- Mental chaos
- convulsions
- Nausea and vomiting
Step 4. Ask your doctor about antiviral medications for the flu
Viral infections are usually spread through direct contact and lack of adequate hygiene. While a viral infection like the flu just needs to be allowed to go away on its own, you can ask your doctor for an antiviral medication to shorten its duration. Symptoms of a viral infection include pain and fatigue with a fever of 38°C or higher. Some patients may also experience upper respiratory symptoms such as headache, runny nose, chills, sinus pain, and sore throat.
- An annual flu vaccine can significantly reduce the chance of getting the flu.
- Your doctor may prescribe oseltamivir if you don't have symptoms for more than 48 hours. The usual dose for this drug is 75 mg twice daily within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms.
Step 5. Take antibiotics to treat bacterial infections
Your doctor will prescribe antibiotics if he suspects your symptoms are caused by a bacterial infection. Antibiotics are not effective against viral infections. However, antibiotics can kill bacteria in the body and/or stop their reproduction. This supports the body's natural defenses against infection.
- The type of antibiotic you take depends on the specific bacterial infection you have.
- Your doctor will order a lab analysis of the blood sample to determine what bacteria are causing your symptoms.
Method 2 of 3: Reducing Fever and Pain with Lifestyle Adjustments
Step 1. Rest and relax
According to studies, lack of sleep can suppress immune function, and rest can increase it. The body must fight off infections that cause fever and body aches. Even if you take medication to relieve your symptoms, your body needs rest and needs to stay strong to fight off the infection.
Step 2. Use warm water to bring down the fever
Try soaking in lukewarm water or placing a cold towel on your body to lower your body temperature. Remember that you shouldn't do it if it's cold. This will make you shiver, and can actually increase your body temperature.
Don't take cold showers because your body temperature will drop too fast. Take a warm bath
Step 3. Meet the body's need for water
When the body temperature is high due to fever, the body loses water more quickly. Dehydration will be more severe if the fever is accompanied by vomiting or diarrhea. The body relies heavily on water to perform its basic functions, so adequate hydration will speed up recovery. Drink cold water to hydrate and cool the body.
- Sports drinks like Gatorade and Power Aid are great to drink if you have GI problems. This drink can help restore lost electrolytes.
- Clear liquids such as broth or soup are also good to drink if you have vomiting and diarrhea. Remember that this condition causes fluid loss, so you should try to restore it and hydrate your body as much as possible.
- Drinking green tea will help boost the immune system. Green tea can make diarrhea worse, so if your fever and body aches are accompanied by diarrhea, don't drink green tea.
Step 4. Eat foods high in antioxidants
Foods that contain antioxidants can help boost the immune system and make it easier for the body to fight infection. The foods you will need include:
- Blueberries, cherries, tomatoes, and other dark colored fruits (yes, tomatoes are fruits!)
- Vegetables like pumpkin and peppers
- Avoid junk food and heavily processed foods, such as donuts, white bread, fried foods, and sweets.
Step 5. Put on wet socks
This technique will help lower body temperature. Wet a light cotton sock with warm water and wring it out. Put it on and cover it with thick socks (this will help keep your feet warm). Wear it while you sleep.
- The body will circulate blood and lymphatic fluid throughout the body while you sleep and stimulate the immune system.
- You can wear wet socks for 5–6 nights. Then, stop for 2 nights before continuing.
Step 6. Quit smoking
Smoking will exacerbate the symptoms of viral infections such as colds and flu. Smoking also interferes with the immune system, making recovery difficult.
Method 3 of 3: Coping With Muscle Aches Without Fever
Step 1. Rest the overused muscles
The most common cause of muscle pain without fever is overuse. You may be working out at the gym too long or pushing yourself too hard while running. As a result, your muscles feel sore due to the buildup of lactic acid in the muscles. The pain will go away on its own if you rest the muscles and allow them to heal. Just stop exercising for a while until you feel better.
- To prevent muscle pain, exercise regularly so that the body does not startle. Do serious physical activity gradually, not suddenly. Don't forget to do a good stretch before and after exercising.
- Increase electrolyte consumption during the recovery period. Muscle pain can be caused by a deficiency of electrolytes such as potassium or calcium.
- Drink a sports drink such as Gatorade or Powerade to restore electrolytes lost due to exercise.
Step 2. Treat muscle injury or trauma with the RICE method
Broken bones and torn ligaments require medical attention, but muscle strain or pain can be treated on their own. Muscle pain like this is usually the result of trauma from a sports injury. The most common symptom is pain and/or swelling in the injured area. You may find it difficult to move your arms and legs freely until the injury heals. This injury is treated with the RICE method: Rest (rest), Ice (ice), Compress (compress), and Elevate (lift).
- Rest the injured muscles as much as possible.
- Apply ice to the injured area to reduce swelling. Ice also numbs the nerve endings in the area, temporarily easing the pain. Place the ice pack on for 15-20 minutes after each use.
- Compresses can reduce swelling and also help stabilize the hands and feet. This is especially helpful if the injured area is your foot and you have difficulty walking. Simply bandage the injured area tightly with an elastic bandage or trainer's tape.
- Elevating the injured body part above the heart will make it difficult to pump blood to the area. This gravity adjustment will reduce swelling.
Step 3. Take action to prevent muscle strain from office work
As odd as it may seem, the sedentary lifestyle of an office person can cause muscle soreness. Sitting in one place for long periods of time can cause lower back pain, insufficient blood circulation to the hands and feet, and increased abdominal circumference. Staring at a computer screen for hours a day can also result in headaches and eye strain.
- To treat muscle pain like this, take over-the-counter medications such as Tylenol or aspirin.
- Take a break by getting away from your desk from time to time and relieve tension in your back and neck.
- Rest your eyes by taking a break every 20 minutes. Look at another object 6 meters away for 20 seconds.
- Regular exercise and increasing water intake can also help.
Step 4. Discuss the medications you are taking with your doctor or health care provider
Medications you take to treat completely unrelated problems can cause body aches. The pain may begin as soon as you take the medicine or after the dose is increased. In addition, some psychoactive drugs can cause a condition called Rhabdomyolysis. This is a serious condition associated with statin use and muscle injury. This condition requires immediate attention in the ED by a trained physician. See a doctor immediately if your muscle pain is accompanied by dark urine and you are also taking any of the following medicines:
- Antipsychotic
- statins
- Amphetamines
- Cocaine
- Antidepressants such as SSRIs
- Anticholinergic
Step 5. Increase electrolyte intake to treat electrolyte imbalance
"Electrolyte" is the name given to certain minerals in the body that carry an electrical charge. Examples are potassium, calcium, and magnesium. This mineral affects hydration and muscle function, as well as other important body functions. Electrolyte deficiency can cause muscle tension and pain.
- Electrolytes are lost when you sweat, but there are many products on the market that can restore electrolyte balance, including dietary supplements.
- Examples of electrolyte products are sports drinks such as Gatorade and Powerade. Unfortunately, water is not a natural source of electrolytes.
- If the pain doesn't go away with home treatments, talk to your doctor about follow-up treatments.
Step 6. Follow medical instructions for treating various muscle disorders
There are many types of muscle disorders that cause common chronic pain. If you experience pain like this and can't determine what's causing it, talk to your doctor. Provide details of your medical history, family history, list of medications you are taking, and any symptoms you are experiencing. The doctor will determine what tests to do to determine the root of your pain. The following are examples of muscle disorders:
- Dermatomyositis or polymyositis: This inflammatory muscle disease affects more women than men. Symptoms include loss or weakness of muscles with pain and difficulty swallowing. Treatment includes steroids and immunomodulators. Your doctor will do blood tests to determine if you have this condition. There are specific autoantibodies involved in some of these diseases. For example, in the case of polymyositis, the doctor will look for Antinuclear, Ant-Ro, and Anti-La antibodies as diagnostic markers.
- Fibromyalgia: This condition can occur due to genetic factors, trauma, anxiety, or depression. The symptom is constant pain throughout the body, usually centered in the lower back or shoulder area. Other symptoms are headaches, jaw pain, fatigue, and impaired memory or slow cognition. The diagnosis of fibromyalgia should be characterized by 11 pain points at specific soft tissue locations. Treatment includes stress management techniques such as yoga and meditation, and possibly pain medication. Sometimes patients are also referred to a psychiatrist for depression treatment and then continued with SSRIs.
Step 7. Seek emergency medical help if needed
There are times when you want to just wait until the muscle pain goes away on its own while resting at home. However, some symptoms require immediate medical attention. Seek emergency medical attention if you experience any of the following:
- Pain is severe or increasing, or does not improve with medication
- Very weak or numb muscles
- High fever or chills
- Difficulty breathing or dizziness
- Chest pain or changes in vision
- Muscle pain with dark urine
- Decreased blood circulation, or cold, pale, or bluish arms and legs
- Other symptoms you don't know the cause
- Blood in urine
Warning
- Aspirin is not recommended to reduce fever, one of the side effects of aspirin is stomach upset.
- Do not smoke and drink alcohol when you have a fever and body aches.
- Ibuprofen can cause side effects such as nausea and vomiting.
