High fever and cough are evidence that an infectious inflammatory process is developing in the body. And do not be fooled about exactly where it develops: if there is a cough, then patients think that the cause of the malaise is the lungs. This is not always the case; coughing can only be a concomitant symptom. For example, a person in the body may develop inflammation in the tissues of one kidney or both at once, as a result of which the immune system becomes unable to fully resist viruses. Such a patient will complain of a high fever and cough, while his kidneys will not hurt, since they do not have nerve endings.
It should be remembered that an accurate diagnosis can only be made by a qualified doctor after receiving the results of the tests. The article lists the most likely causes of high fever, cough, and pain, and describes sample treatments for these symptoms.
Dangerous symptoms: what to look for?
How to understand when you need to urgently see a doctor or even call an ambulance, and when you can limit yourself to standard treatment for influenza at home? In fact, at first glance and by the totality of symptoms, even an experienced qualified doctor cannot make a diagnosis. It is necessary to take blood and urine tests, but even after that it is not always possible to reveal the true clinical picture. Often, a lung scan is also required, as well as an ultrasound or MRI scan of the abdominal organs.
First of all, the symptoms should be described as accurately as possible to the doctor - high fever, headache, cough, runny nose, the presence of other pains and their intensity. If one of the symptoms is hidden from the doctor, this may affect the accuracy of the clinical presentation, as a result of which the wrong diagnosis will be made. Severe cough and fever are quite dangerous symptoms, and the patient’s condition cannot be allowed to drift.
When is the time to call an ambulance?
An ambulance should be called in the following case:
- body temperature rises your 38.5 degrees;
- when coughing, the contents are streaked with blood;
- the patient is so weak that he cannot get to the clinic himself;
- the presence of other dangerous symptoms - blood in the urine or feces, nausea with bile or anemia, etc.
If the patient is only concerned about a relatively small increase in temperature (up to 38 degrees), and if, in addition to sore throat, he does not suffer from other pains, then treatment at home can be allowed. Such symptoms indicate infection with a simple SARS. In this case, it is better to lie down at home for about a week, as well as treat the usual cold treatment methods (they are described at the end of the article).
The most common causes of this symptomatology
The most common causes of high fever, cough, snot, muscle pain:
- pharyngitis, laryngitis and other diseases of the nasopharynx and larynx of an inflammatory nature;
- pneumonia;
- colds (ARVI, flu);
- pyelonephritis or cystitis;
- some types of allergic reactions can also give similar symptoms.
High fever and cough may indicate an inflammatory process not only in the lungs or nasopharynx. Often, due to inflammation of the organs of the urinary system, general immunity is reduced, and the body becomes highly susceptible to a variety of viruses. As a result, some people almost constantly suffer from the symptoms of SARS, and persistently continue to treat the common cold. But you need to get rid of the underlying disease, along the way to restore the impaired function of the body's defenses. After such complex therapy, health will improve, and colds will not be scary.
Pharyngitis: causes and symptoms
The reasons why pharyngitis, laryngitis and other inflammatory diseases of the larynx develop:
- deviations in the structure of the mucosa of the larynx, individual structural features of the larynx;
- long-term exposure to the cavity of the mucous membrane of the cold or chemicals;
- pharyngitis can also develop due to exposure to excessively hot temperatures - the disease does not always appear after exposure to cold;
- the presence of hormonal disorders (diabetes mellitus, menopause, hypothyroidism);
- the penetration of pathogenic bacteria onto the surface of the mucosa;
- deficiency in the body of vitamin A, as well as the necessary minerals and amino acids;
- smoking abuse and drinking alcohol;
- renal failure;
- difficulty in nasal breathing due to sinusitis, chronic rhinitis, etc .;
- pulmonary failure;
- regular use of nasal drops with a vasoconstrictor effect.
Symptoms of pharyngitis:
- the temperature rises to 38-38.5 degrees;
- enlarged lymph nodes in the neck;
- sore throat when swallowing;
- depending on the stage of development of the disease, dry cough may or may not be present.
Treatment methods
If the results of the tests showed that the cause of high fever, dry cough, sore throat with pharyngitis was the infection of the mucous surface with pathogenic microbes, then the doctor prescribes drugs with an antibiotic effect.
If other factors became the cause of the disease, then you can take “Fervex”, “Teraflu” and other drugs to lower the temperature and alleviate the symptoms of flu. As a rule, it is enough to take these drugs daily for 4-6 days, as a result of which the patient ceases to feel symptoms. High fever and cough disappear already on the second or third day and, as a rule, after drug withdrawal they no longer return.
Symptoms of pneumonia: how not to miss the development of a serious disease
Compared with acute respiratory viral infections, pharyngitis and influenza, pneumonia (pneumonia) is a very serious disease, which in the long run can even lead to death. In order not to bring matters to complications, it is better to see an otorhinolaryngologist or even an ordinary therapist. Medical experience, as a rule, in the aggregate of a redneck of the patient, will not misfire. You can distinguish pneumonia even according to the description of the patient's well-being. Symptoms are as follows:
- the temperature rises up to 39-40 degrees;
- the cough is initially dry, and for 3-4 days - with a plentiful discharge of sputum;
- chills, fever;
- muscle aches, body aches;
- nasolabial triangle cyanosis;
- blood pressure is reduced, heart sounds are deaf.
In medicine, focal pneumonia is also isolated, which usually develops as a result of an acute respiratory viral infection. It differs from ordinary pneumonia in the presence of mucopurulent sputum, the patient also has sweating, weakness, while breathing - pain in the chest on inspiration and coughing, acrocyanosis. With focal confluent pneumonia, the patient's condition slowly but inevitably worsens: severe shortness of breath, cyanosis appear.
The methods of pneumonia therapy in modern medicine
We found that the main symptoms of pneumonia are fever and cough. What to do if you suspect pneumonia, is it possible to get rid of this disease at home? Doing this is highly discouraged, as pneumonia can cause serious complications in case of incorrect treatment. The course of pneumonia is considered to be complicated, accompanied by the development in the bronchopulmonary system and other organs of inflammatory and reactive processes caused directly by pneumonia. The course and outcome of pneumonia largely depends on the presence of complications.
When treating in a hospital, a number of drugs with an antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effect are used. Often a course of droppers or intramuscular injections is required. The patient should observe bed rest for the duration of treatment, exclude physical and psycho-emotional overload.
Pyelonephritis as a cause of cold-like symptoms
As mentioned above, fever, cough, pain and runny nose can occur with pyelonephritis. It would seem that this is a kidney disease - and where does the cough and runny nose? However, chronic pyelonephritis develops imperceptibly, the patient for weeks and even months only feels weakness and decreased vitality. Then manifestations of a seemingly ordinary cold may begin: high fever and cough, runny nose, severe weakness. Some people may feel pulling pains in the lumbar region at the same time - this organism hints at the dysfunction in the organs of the urinary system.
If there is a suspicion of pyelonephritis, it is necessary to pass tests. In a biochemical blood test, attention should be paid to creatinine and urea, and in a urinalysis, to the presence of protein, sediment, and white blood cells.
Methods for treating pyelonephritis and similar diseases
If the cause of the malaise is pyelonephritis, cystitis, or other inflammatory or infectious processes in the kidney tissues, then a long and serious treatment will be required. It is necessary to undergo antibiotic treatment. Moreover, only a doctor can prescribe a medicine - not all microorganisms are sensitive to any antibiotics.
In parallel, medications should be taken to restore immunity. During an exacerbation of the disease, the patient should observe bed rest, avoid physical exertion.
ARVI - the cause of temperature and cough in the presence of the virus
In the autumn and spring season, most people have reduced immunity. As a result of this, symptoms of viral diseases are observed: high fever, barking cough, runny nose, sputum discharge. A cold can go away on its own, but it's better not to start this process. It is fraught with the development of complications.
If a person has a severe cough with a cold, then inflammation can go to the lungs - this is fraught with the development of pneumonia. A strong dry cough and a high fever are already a reason to beware and consult a doctor. Perhaps the cold has already passed into the stage of pneumonia. If there is severe sore throat, lymph nodes in the neck are enlarged - there is a high risk of developing sore throat.
ARVI treatment methods: what to do at home?
How to treat fever and cough at home? Here are simple ways to improve a patient’s condition in a short time:
- steam the feet in a bath with mustard;
- rub the chest with badger fat overnight;
- drink hot milk with honey and a small amount of butter;
- after taking a hot bath, lie under a warm blanket and wait for profuse sweating.
After such manipulations the very next morning the patient will feel significant relief. You can also use drugs "Ferveks" or "Teraflu" to quickly get rid of the symptoms of a cold.
Are drugs effective for the prevention of acute respiratory viral infections?
To date, the pharmacological market offers many drugs that strengthen the immune system and thereby are able to prevent infection by viral diseases. These are Arbidol, Kogacel, and many others. Their effectiveness is very doubtful: many doctors are negative about these kinds of drugs, since laboratory studies have not proved their high effectiveness.
However, patient reviews are different. Many people buy drugs to prevent viral diseases every fall. With regular admission, it is really possible to avoid infection, even if a person regularly communicates with the "virus carriers" - already sick people. If there is a suspicion of the development of complications, then it is better not to take risks and not to take medications intended for prevention, but to start drinking medications for sore throat, for coughing, etc.