Overview
Viral fever is one of the most common seasonal conditions that affects both children and adults. With every season change, the atmospheric temperature changes. This creates favourable conditions for viruses to attack. Antibiotics usually have no impact on viral fever, therefore your choices remain on OTC products and home remedies to deal with it. The viral fever may sometimes cause diarrhea and vomiting. Some of the home remedies specified below will give you relief from these symptoms as well as treat your viral fever slowly and effectively.
Symptoms
Symptoms of viral fever may mimic many other medical conditions. Therefore, it is important to differentiate between viral fever and other serious medical conditions causing your body temperature to rise.
Some of the most common symptoms of viral fever are as under:
- Very high fever intermittently subsiding and rising
- Chills
- Severe joint pain
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Cough
- Headache
- Nasal congestion
- Skin rashes
Check with your doctor to assert that you have viral fever and not any other serious health conditions.
The number of known and unknown viruses are now increasing, causing sometimes confusions, therefore monitoring of your fever and other symptoms by a doctor is helpful.
What causes Viral Fever?
Viral fever as the name suggests is caused by many different viruses. One of the most common viruses is cold in which your upper respiratory tract is affected. Other viruses that cause fever are sinus infections, viral gastroenteritis and influenza (flu).
You have to be careful as some of the viruses can cause chicken pox or herpes.
Flu is also a serious viral condition as it can cause many life threatening health conditions such as pneumonia in some people.
Most viral infections are contracted when your immunity is low. You can easily get these viruses from the infected people. When they cough or sneeze, the viruses become airborne and are easily passed on to others.
A proper diagnosis can save lives, as symptoms of other serious conditions such as dengue, malaria, chikungunya and typhoid etc, are similar to simple common cold viral fever. Blood tests can rule out these conditions which are generally caused by bacteria. Once it is clear that you have simple viral fever you can treat it easily at home with natural remedies.
Home Remedies for Viral Fever
Choose one or more of the following remedies to deal with your viral fever symptoms:
1. Cinnamon
Cinnamon is an excellent remedy for viral fever. It is a natural antibiotic which can treat cough and cold and soothe sore throat. You can use it alone or with other natural products. Use it even if you suspect viral fever. This will also help in prevention.
How to use : Add one teaspoon of cinnamon powder with two cardamom pods in a cup of boiling water. Let it simmer for 5 minutes. Stain and drink warm.
2. Coriander Seeds
Coriander seeds can boost your immunity to fight against viruses and bacteria. It contains vitamins, phytonutrients and antibiotic components. The volatile oil in coriander effectively deals with viral fever.
How to use : The best way to use coriander seeds is to boil them. Add one teaspoon of coriander seeds in a glass of water. Allow it to cool to palatable condition and strain. Add a teaspoon of honey and drink the coriander water to relieve symptoms of viral fever.
3. Dill seeds
Dill seeds provide multiple health benefits. They not only improve immunity but also relaxes body and lowers body temperature. They contain flavonoids and monoterpenes which act as antibiotics to relieve viral fever.
How to use : Add a teaspoon of Dill seeds and a teaspoon of cinnamon to a cup of boiling water and allow it to boil for 5 minutes. Strain drink warm to relieve a fever.
4. Fenugreek water
With compounds such as diosgenin, saponins and alkaloids, fenugreek possesses powerful medicinal capabilities to fight viral fever and other symptoms.
How to use : You need to prepare it a night before. Soak one tablespoon of fenugreek seeds in a cup of water overnight. Strain in the morning and drink to treat viral fever. You can add juice of half a lemon and honey for even more powerful impact..
5. Garlic
Garlic is one of the most potent herbal remedies for cold and fever. It possesses both anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties due to a compound named allicin. You can use garlic alone or with olive oil externally to deal with your viral fever.
How to use : Crush two cloves of garlic. Add two tablespoons of olive oil and warm up the mixture in low heat for a couple of minutes. Apply it to the soles of your feet and cover your feet with a plastic wrap. Keep it overnight and remove it in the morning. This will lower your viral fever and you will sleep well.
6. Ginger
Ginger with germ-fighting phytochemical ajeone is an excellent remedy for upper respiratory viral and bacterial infections. You can use it alone or with lemon and/or honey to get the best results
How to use : Peel an inch of ginger and grate it in a glass of water. Put it on heat to simmer for 10 minutes. Strain and add juice of half a lemon to drink it warm. You can add a teaspoon of honey if you prefer. Or, take one teaspoon of dry ginger powder. Add one teaspoon of honey and lick the mixture to get rid of viral fever.
7. Raisins
Raisins are excellent home remedies to deal with viral fever.
How to use : Soak two tablespoons of raisins in a cup of water and let it soak water. Crush the raisin after 30 minutes and strain. Add juice of juice of half lemon lime and drink.
How Long Does a Viral Fever Last?
The infection period may depend on the kind viral infection you have got.
The infection may begin a couple of days before the symptoms appear. So even if you may not show any symptoms you may be infectious. You will remain infectious until the viral fever is completely gone. First 3-4 days are highly infectious days.
Most viral infections of common cold and flu may last from a few days to two weeks. Mononucleosis or mono as it's popularly known may last longer.
Precautions and Prevention
Most viral fever medications only prevent spread of viruses. They give symptomatic relief. They don't kill viruses. Therefore, it is better to prevent viral fever than try to cure it.
Viral fever is highly preventable, if you maintain your immunity at every high level.
You can increase your immunity as under.
- Stay hydrated by drinking 8-10 glasses of water daily.
- Eat nutritional food
- Sleep well for 7-8 hours
- Get enough sunlight exposure to keep your Vitamin D levels high
- Do high intensity Exercise daily in addition to 40 minutes of brisk walking.
- Get zinc through foods and supplements
If you maintain good immunity then your odds to get viral fever are significantly reduced. Even if you get viral fever, you will be easily able to deal with it with the above home remedies. Key is to act early.