Systemic Viral Illness

What is Systemic Viral Illness?

Fever that is caused by a virus is commonly termed Systemic Viral Illness or Influenza or Flu. Most commonly these viruses are Influenza A or Influenza B. The infection spreads fast via airborne droplets by coughing or sneezing and by direct contact. This disease is usually not serious among young and healthy adults, who normally recover from it even without treatment, but it can be fatal among the elderly and those with heart or lung ailments.

Symptoms

1. Fever
2. Chills
3. Body aches (joints and muscles)
4. Red watery eyes
5. Cough
6. Congested or runny nose
7. sore throat
8. Headache
9. Tiredness
10. Weakness
11. Loss of appetite
12. Diarrhea

Instructions

1. Take a complete rest in a well-ventilated room until the disease clears up.
2. Drink plenty of fluids but do not take alcohol
3. Take antifever medicine but avoid aspirin
4. Take a cough medicine if needed
5. Take a cough suppressant for dry cough and an expectorant for productive cough
6. Consult your doctor

Mumps

What is Mumps?

Mumps is a viral infection that affects the salivary glands just in front of the ears. This is generally a mild illness, but highly contagious; contact with others must be restricted until all symptoms of mumps are gone, about a week after onset. Mumps usually lasts about one week. Complications from mumps are more common in adults than children. These complications include deafness, viral brain infection, pancreatitis, and involvement of the testicles or ovaries.

Symptoms:

1. mild fever
2. headache
3. earache

General Measures:

1. It is best treated with bed rest and mild pain medicine.
2. Encourage lots of fluid intake.
3. Avoid sour food, citrus fruits and juices.
4. Patients should be isolated until the swelling subsides.

Prevention:

1. Mumps vaccine is safe and is recommended for children.