28/01/2023
During the past few months, you probably noticed that so many of us fell ill with a febrile illness followed by a dry cough that lingered long after the fever settled. To start off, it's important to note that fever itself is only a symptom and not an illness by itself. Therefore, it is worth exploring, what actually caused this wave of febrile illnesses and discussing what should be done during these episodes and more importantly what should not be done during these febrile episodes. We hope to answer these questions in this short article.
The experts believe that the main cause of this recent wave of febrile illnesses is an influenza virus causing respiratory illness. These patients commonly present with cough, fever, sore throat, and body aches. However, it is important to note that COVID - 19 infections are still at large and some of these symptoms should never be underestimated or ignored as they can lead to misdiagnosis.
Apart from the wave of influenza that is sweeping through the country, we have noted an increase in the number of dengue patients that are reported, along with an increase in the number of cases reported with fever due to leptospirosis.
Now we will move on to discuss what should be done during these febrile illnesses. If you develop a fever, the most important thing is to keep yourself well hydrated by taking plenty of liquids in the form of drinking water, fruit juices, soups, and other foods that contain essential vitamins and minerals. Oral rehydration salt solutions (Commonly known as Jeewani) are an easy alternative that can provide sufficient hydration in an easy-to-provide package. A well-balanced diet is extremely important during any illness, and the same applies to these febrile illnesses as well.
Paracetamol is the only drug that is recommended to be used as a home remedy and any other drug that you take should be taken according to the instructions given by a registered medical practitioner.
If you are an elderly person, a pregnant mother, or a person with a chronic disease, the outcome of this febrile illness can be quite severe, Therefore it is advisable that you seek medical advice on the very first day of fever and follow medical advice throughout the illness.
Apart from paracetamol, no other drug should be taken to control fever and body aches, as it can be detrimental to the outcome depending on the type of illness that caused the fever. The use of antibiotics and steroids should be minimized. We wish to re-emphasize that these medications should never be used without a valid prescription from a registered medical practitioner, and they should be closely monitored by the same.
People who have a lingering dry cough following the febrile illness might even need to use an inhaler for a short time period to help alleviate troublesome symptoms.
In order to protect yourself and others from respiratory illness, always maintain good hand hygiene, wear a face mask when visiting public places, and maintain appropriate physical distancing, when coughing and sneezing always use a tissue to cover your nose and mouth or use the inside of your elbow to the same effect.
Keeping your household and workplaces free of mosquito breeding sites would help prevent yourself and your loved ones from developing dengue fever.
Those of you who are exposed to high-risk occupations/activities making you more susceptible to developing Leptospirosis (Rat Fever) should seek advice from the medical officer of health office in your area to get the chemoprophylaxis that can protect you during such exposure.
We hope this information will be useful for you to protect yourself from developing these febrile illnesses and to take appropriate action in the event you or your loved ones develop a febrile illness.
