On a winter night, Mr. Zhang, a retired teacher who often pays attention to health information, suddenly felt unwell: his body temperature rose slightly to 375. Accompanied by aches and exhaustion all over the body. He thought it was just an ordinary physical discomfort, and relying on years of health preservation experience, he chose to carry it hard and did not take any measures. However, over time, his symptoms did not subside as expected, but gradually worsened. This seemingly inconspicuous decision eventually led to him having to seek emergency medical attention after his condition worsened.
When faced with a low-grade fever accompanied by body aches, many people may see it as an ordinary physical discomfort and choose to ignore it or adopt a simple self-treatment approach. However, these symptoms can be health alerts from the body, and there may be multiple causes of disease that need to be addressed.
Viral infections: common but not negligible
Viral infection is one of the most common causes of low-grade fever and body aches. For example, the flu virus can not only cause a slight increase in body temperature, but also cause symptoms such as muscle pain and fatigue. This type of infection usually resolves on its own with the help of the autoimmune system, but for middle-aged and elderly people with weakened immunity, timely symptomatic treatment and doctor's consultation are necessary.
Bacterial infections: a hidden threat
In addition to viruses, bacterial infections can also cause low-grade fever and body aches. Unlike viral infections, bacterial diseases such as pneumonia and urinary tract infections may require antibiotics**. The key to recognizing this type of infection is to look for the persistence of symptoms and other associated symptoms, such as difficulty breathing or pain when urinating.
Autoimmune diseases: a misunderstanding of the body
When the body's immune system mistakenly attacks its own tissues, low-grade fever and body aches may occur. Diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis or systemic lupus erythematosus can cause more than just these symptomsIt can also cause joint redness and fatigue. The management of this type of disease requires professional medical guidance and long-term planning.
Psychological factors: an influence that cannot be ignored
It is important to note that long-term stress and anxiety can also lead to low-grade fever and body aches. Psychological stress can indirectly cause physical pain and other physical symptoms by affecting the immune system. In such cases, psychological support and stress management skills may be needed in addition to medicine**.
In our lives, a low-grade fever seems to be a subtle symptom that is neither as urgent as a high fever nor as easily ignored as asymptomatic. But when a low-grade fever is accompanied by pain all over the body,This is often a signal from the body that cannot be ignored. Many people tend to "resist hard", believing that it is just a temporary discomfort of the body, but this practice may have hidden health risks.
Understand low-grade fever and body aches
Low-grade fever is generally defined as a body temperature slightly higher than normal body temperature (36.)5℃-37.2) but below the status of 38. When this subtle increase in body temperature is accompanied by pain all over the body,It can be a sign of a viral infection (such as the flu), a bacterial infection, an inflammatory reaction, or even the first signs of certain chronic diseases.
The right time to take fever-reducing medications
Body temperature indicators:When the body temperature stabilizes at 37Consider taking fever-reducing medication when the fever is 5 or higher, especially if the low-grade fever persists or the body temperature tends to rise further.
Increased physical discomfort: if accompanied by significant general pain, fatigue, headache, or other discomfort in addition to body temperatureThese can be signals to take fever-reducing medications in time.
Affects daily life:Appropriate use of fever-reducing drugs should be considered when low-grade fever and generalized aches interfere with the quality of daily living, such as sleep, diet, or daily activities.
When selecting and using antipyretics, middle-aged and elderly people need to consider the safety and applicability of the drugs. Different fever-reducing drugs have different mechanisms of action,** and interactions with other medications.
Guidelines for choosing a fever reducer
Ingredient selection: Commonly used antipyretic ingredients include acetaminophen (paracetamol), ibuprofen, etc. Acetaminophen is suitable for most people,** relatively rarely, but liver function needs to be taken care of. Ibuprofen has antipyretic and analgesic effects, but should be used with caution in people with stomach or kidney problems.
Dosage vs. Frequency:Follow your doctor's instructions or medication label and do not exceed the recommended dose. intoThe safe dose of acetaminophen for human use is generally not more than 4 grams per day.
Drug interactions: Consider that middle-aged and older adults may take other drugs at the same timeA doctor or pharmacist should be consulted when choosing a fever reducer to avoid adverse drug interactions.
Precautions for the use of antipyretics
Monitor body temperature changes:After taking antipyretics, you should continue to monitor your body temperature to see how well the drug works and how your body responds.
Diet and hydration: While taking fever reducers, maintain adequate water intake to avoid dehydration, and pay attention to balanced nutrition to support recovery.
Avoid self-diagnosis:If low-grade fever and pain persist, or if symptoms tend to worsen, seek help from a doctor and avoid self-diagnosis and**.