when to treat fever

[h90]

As higher you fever as more active parts of the immune system gets.

Many pathogen bacteria have optimum grow at 37 degree C, and slow down as hotter you are...some dramatic some not so much.

But really high fever is really hard on the body. I always thought of 40 degree as the limit to reduce it with medicine. As above the fever may do more harm than the disease.

Now I had dengue fever 2-3 days (lost track of time) at 40 degree with once per day reducing it with paracetamol and aspirin (at that moment I didn't know it is dengue) so I can eat and "do an hour" in the office.

I am almost OK now, without para temperature is between 37.5-38 and sure tomorrow it is another 0.5 degree less.

I feel very drained and ask myself if it was the disease and the virus or if the high fever exhausted my body (age 44, slim, fit, male) and it would have been smarter to go for 39 degree?

Edit: can some mod please change tread to treat? I can't edit it.

Edited November 1, 2015 by Crossy

[Crossy]

Fixed.

And agreed, dengue is no joke.

Had the mild version in Delhi a few years back, still get the echoes

[Sheryl]

With or without paracetemol, dengue leaves you feeling utterly drained. In fact the convalescence is in some ways worse than the acute illness.

Be prepared for acute depression. Severe in many cases. Just keep reminding yourself it is a natural effect of the disease. takes a month or more to resolve as does the wiped out feeling.

[mommysboy]

High fever is tough, especially in a hot climate. Beware dehydration. I don't think you should take aspirin with dengue fever.

Why do you think it is dengue ?

[lemonjelly]

If it's dengue, be prepared for a splitting headache for a few days, another fever and then maybe haemorrhaging... Not nice, I've been there

[Denim]

Not wishing to highjack the thread I just thought I would say something about the term ' break a fever '.

A long time ago ( in Bangkok ) I had the flu bad and unusually for me had to take several days off work. Nothing I tried helped. I had no appetite and had a high temperature throughout several days and sleepless nights. I had the air con set for 25 to try to alleviate my suffering.

Finally , I decided to change my methods. I turned off the air con , rubbed tiger balm over my entire torso , wore some thick clothes and wrapped myself in a quilt.

The sweat absolutely poured out of me and I got through a couple of litres of water until just when I felt like death, the strangest thing happened. I literally felt the fever break in just a few seconds. Within minutes I felt 100% better ( although weak ) and after a shower I slept solidly for 8 hours.

so it would seem the old trick of killing the virus with extreme heat works if you can take it. Maybe why sick dogs like to lie out in the hot sun.

[MaeJoMTB]

You won't be cycling for a few months.

Bad luck!

Get well soon.

Edited November 1, 2015 by MaeJoMTB

[DipStick]

Isn't it an old mothers saying, "sweat a fever out" hence the hot toddies with alcohol , lemon, and honey etc

[h90]

You won't be cycling for a few months.

Bad luck!

Get well soon.

Maybe the 1 km to the 7/11 and back.....

[h90]

Fixed.

And agreed, dengue is no joke.

Had the mild version in Delhi a few years back, still get the echoes

What kind of echos?

[h90]

With or without paracetemol, dengue leaves you feeling utterly drained. In fact the convalescence is in some ways worse than the acute illness.

Be prepared for acute depression. Severe in many cases. Just keep reminding yourself it is a natural effect of the disease. takes a month or more to resolve as does the wiped out feeling.

thanks for the hint....I fell mentally sound now....but during the high fever I wasn't in control of my thinking....like a mad mix of dreaming and awake, but rather negative.

You could call it hearing voice but that isn't it.....fever went down...that was gone....

[h90]

If it's dengue, be prepared for a splitting headache for a few days, another fever and then maybe haemorrhaging... Not nice, I've been there

I am after that already! splitting headache and pain behind the eyes.....and well everywhere else.....

Like the worst hangover every + bad migraine....

no sign of haemorrhaging at the moment, I guess I skip that.....Even the effect on skin is very light only.

[TommyTucker]

If you are suffering from Dengue, the best pain relieve and treatment is as follows;

Beg, borrow, steal or buy Two (2) pieces of raw Pawpaw (Papaya) leaves. Clean the leaves and pound and squeeze with a filter cloth. You will only get one tablespoon of juice per leaf. So, take two (2) tablespoons of Pawpaw (Papaya) leaf juice once a day. Do not boil, or cook, or rinse the leaves with hot water, as it will lose its strength. Use only the leafy part of the Pawpaw (Papaya) plant, and not the stem or sap. The juice is very bitter, and you have to swallow it. But it works.Simple and Effective – blend the leaves, squeeze the juice, drink immediately.

[h90]

If you are suffering from Dengue, the best pain relieve and treatment is as follows;

Beg, borrow, steal or buy Two (2) pieces of raw Pawpaw (Papaya) leaves. Clean the leaves and pound and squeeze with a filter cloth. You will only get one tablespoon of juice per leaf. So, take two (2) tablespoons of Pawpaw (Papaya) leaf juice once a day. Do not boil, or cook, or rinse the leaves with hot water, as it will lose its strength. Use only the leafy part of the Pawpaw (Papaya) plant, and not the stem or sap. The juice is very bitter, and you have to swallow it. But it works.Simple and Effective – blend the leaves, squeeze the juice, drink immediately.

Paracetamol also works and easier to handle.

[TommyTucker]

The major issue with dengue fever is that it dramatically reduces your platelet count.

IF you have dengue fever you probably will have a rash as well as the high fever, severe pain etc.

The juice made from papaya leaves help normalise the platelet count, improve the clotting factor and liver function, and repair liver damage caused due to dengue.

[h90]

The major issue with dengue fever is that it dramatically reduces your platelet count.

IF you have dengue fever you probably will have a rash as well as the high fever, severe pain etc.

The juice made from papaya leaves help normalise the platelet count, improve the clotting factor and liver function, and repair liver damage caused due to dengue.

I am past the high fever and several pain part....which was no fun....

Lucky on the rash....just minimal small red spots...not itching beside where the trouser hits the belly....or yesterday I was 5 min in the morning sun and looked like full scale sunburn.

Thanks for pointing out the liver....I have some herbal pills to support the liver....good idea to eat them.

Got fast thru the worst of it but now it goes a bit slow.....

[stgrhe]

Dengue Fever (DF), and in particular Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF), must be taken seriously and of one has had high fever for two days, without the typical cold sympthoms such as soure through or rinning nose, one should immediately seek proper medical care at a hospital. After the third day the situation can be very critical as fluid starts to leak through the membaranes.

[Lekong]

I am surprised that after reading 17 responses to this thread, only one person talks of going to the hospital. Does it mean the hospital can't help? I have had fever too and went to the hospital and after all tests, nothing was found but i was not well. Interestingly enough each time I go to the hospital the only drug that the doctors give me is paracetamol. Is this the only effect drug here for fever and headache? I once told a doctor that para is too weak for me and he gave me ibuprofen or ibufen (I don't quite remember the correct spelling). This drug works well on me but itches me and makes my hands swell. I am an African and we have very strong drugs mostly from France for fever.

[h90]

I am surprised that after reading 17 responses to this thread, only one person talks of going to the hospital. Does it mean the hospital can't help? I have had fever too and went to the hospital and after all tests, nothing was found but i was not well. Interestingly enough each time I go to the hospital the only drug that the doctors give me is paracetamol. Is this the only effect drug here for fever and headache? I once told a doctor that para is too weak for me and he gave me ibuprofen or ibufen (I don't quite remember the correct spelling). This drug works well on me but itches me and makes my hands swell. I am an African and we have very strong drugs mostly from France for fever.

Interesting! I was never in contact with paracetamol before. If I take 500 mg fever drops, pain is gone....wonder healing.....

Either it differs from person to person or it is because I am not used to it. The Thais here eat medicine like candies wouldn't surprise me if that reduce the effect?

Dengue Fever: painkiller...keep the body hydrated, manage the fever

Something like 5% of the cases can develop into Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever which is very dangerous....you easily die from internal bleeding.

So if you would know that you are in the safe 95 % you wouldn't need the hospital...unfortunately who knows before?

[h90]

Dengue Fever (DF), and in particular Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF), must be taken seriously and of one has had high fever for two days, without the typical cold sympthoms such as soure through or rinning nose, one should immediately seek proper medical care at a hospital. After the third day the situation can be very critical as fluid starts to leak through the membaranes.

I am at day 7 (if I remember right.....not that easy at high fever) already and recovering well. Recovery is a bit slower than what I expected but I think I am over it.

[xylophone]

High fever is tough, especially in a hot climate. Beware dehydration. I don't think you should take aspirin with dengue fever.

Why do you think it is dengue ?

Correct, paracetamol is ok, but not aspirin.

As for the "echoes" which Crossy mentions, I also believe that occasionally for a couple of years after I had bouts of real tiredness for seemingly no reason.

I searched long and hard on Google to see if this was poss but no real answers.........then came across an article by a Dr (and team) who specialise in these types of virus and he reported it as a rare but real side effect of dengue for some people.

[MusV]

Possible you recovering from ... Chikungunya Fever

Read here ... I got better results with Ibuprofen 400mg

http://m.wikihow.com/Recover-from-Chikungunya

Wish you all yhe best for healing,. Take notice ... time needed.

Edited November 2, 2015 by MusV

[h90]

Possible you recovering from ... Chikungunya Fever

Read here ... I got better results with Ibuprofen 400mg

http://m.wikihow.com/Recover-from-Chikungunya

Wish you all yhe best for healing,. Take notice ... time needed.

thanks....never heard of that...it reads almost like dengue.

[hawker9000]

Are dengue and the hemorrhagic version of dengue the same thing? Is there any way to know for sure you have one or the other, or are lab tests required to know? I thought I'd read that the problem with aspirin is that it thins the blood and so aggravates the effects of hemorrhagic dengue, but not so much of a problem with "regular" dengue. Also thought the symptoms associated with hemorrhagic dengue were pretty apparent (bleeding out the eyes, etc), as with other hemorrhagic fevers.

[oncearugge]

Are dengue and the hemorrhagic version of dengue the same thing? Is there any way to know for sure you have one or the other, or are lab tests required to know? I thought I'd read that the problem with aspirin is that it thins the blood and so aggravates the effects of hemorrhagic dengue, but not so much of a problem with "regular" dengue. Also thought the symptoms associated with hemorrhagic dengue were pretty apparent (bleeding out the eyes, etc), as with other hemorrhagic fevers.

Detail in the link

There are different strains of dengue which can be identified in the Lab. The tests take time .

Diagnosis and treatment is based on clinical presentation and blood counts particularly the Platelet count.

[NickJ]

Dengue needs to be confirmed with a blood test. There is one strain here that is dangerous. I have had it twice....once it lived up to its nickname of Bone Break Fever....the second it was bearable. But the fever had a second spike and then the rash hit.

[oncearugge]

Are dengue and the hemorrhagic version of dengue the same thing? Is there any way to know for sure you have one or the other, or are lab tests required to know? I thought I'd read that the problem with aspirin is that it thins the blood and so aggravates the effects of hemorrhagic dengue, but not so much of a problem with "regular" dengue. Also thought the symptoms associated with hemorrhagic dengue were pretty apparent (bleeding out the eyes, etc), as with other hemorrhagic fevers.

Detail in the link

There are different strains of dengue which can be identified in the Lab. The tests take time .

Diagnosis and treatment is based on clinical presentation and blood counts particularly the Platelet count.

Whoops!

I forgot to include the link ! Here it is ................

http://www.cdc.gov/dengue/clinicalLab/

[oxo1947]

The major issue with dengue fever is that it dramatically reduces your platelet count.

IF you have dengue fever you probably will have a rash as well as the high fever, severe pain etc.

The juice made from papaya leaves help normalise the platelet count, improve the clotting factor and liver function, and repair liver damage caused due to dengue.

Mate did you get your avatar from little Britain.....Look into my eyes,Look into my eyes....the eyes the eyes, not around the eyes

Hope you get well soon H90

[Sheryl]

There are several different strains of dengue (five so far identified) but all can cause similiar clinical presentation and which one you have makes no difference to clinical management (for that matter, neither does it much matter whether what you have is Dengue or Chikungya which is very similiar in its symptoms).

All strains of Dengue can result in Dengue Hemorrghaic Fever (DHF) or "complicated Dengue", though this will occur in only a minority of cases. It is the possibility of hemorrhagic complications which accounts for the recommendation to avoid aspirin and NSAIDs.

Full blown DHF is indeed pretty obvious but in early stages it is easy to miss unless specifically looked for (and it needs to be caught early, mortality rates rise if treatment is delayed). The first signs that can be seen by the naked eye are petechiae, little red dots pin prick in size, or unexplained bruises. To check for these the "tourniquet test" is often employed, you take the blood pressure first then inflate the cuff to halfway between the upper and lower numbers (e.g. if BP 120/20 then inflate to 100) and leave it on for 5 minutes then release and inspect the arm for petechiae and bruising. 10 or more petechiae spots within a one inch area is considered a positive test (so do not freak out over the odd petechiae here and there....you likely have that even when not ill).

This is mainly done only in settings where no lab tests are available, which would not usually be the case in Thailand. Otherwise, the platlet count is monitored, which any lab can do. Initially a full blood count is usually advised, among other things to rule out bacterial causes of the fever. If it is dengue the white blood count will be normal or low. Some drop in platlet count is quite usual with Dengue and will continue as the disease progresses (as will drops in white blood cells) but if the platlets dip below 100,000 this is a warning sign and best to be hospitalized.

[Sheryl]

A post with dangerous misinformation and quackery has been removed along with reply to it.