acute respiratory infection without fever

Most of us are used to associating infectious diseases with high temperatures. Indeed, high temperatures (above 37°C) indicate that the body is fighting viruses and bacterial infections. Medical experts even advise against taking fever pills if the temperature does not exceed 38°C. However, why do cases of acute respiratory viral infections sometimes occur without a fever? Is this normal, or is there something wrong with the body?

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Reasons

We all know that the normal temperature should be 36.6°C. Sometimes fluctuations from 36 to 37°C are allowed, due to the characteristics of a particular organism.

The course of ARVI without fever in most cases indicates a weakening of the immune system, depletion of the body's internal reserves and a strong decrease in resistance to infection. Often, low indicators indicate problems with the defense system, moral or physical overload.

A decrease in immune function is often associated with a current infectious disease. For example, if a viral or other microbial infection alternates one after another, the body does not have time to recover, being weakened by the previous pathology. A sharp surge in a new disease can become an unbearable burden on the immune system, which affects the weak reaction of the thermoregulation apparatus.

In a smaller number of cases, normal temperature readings during a viral infection can be caused by dysfunction of the hypothalamus, which is often observed during severe intoxication of the body. The point is that one of the functions of the hypothalamus is control over thermoregulation processes in the body. And, as is known, the hypothalamus (a part of the diencephalon responsible for the constancy of the internal environment of the body) is very sensitive to the effects of toxic substances. During intoxication (an integral part of ARVI), a temporary failure in the hypothalamus may occur, which affects the improper functioning of the thermoregulatory system.

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Symptoms

Symptoms of acute respiratory viral infection without fever are not specific, so it is very difficult to determine a patient’s normal readings without using a thermometer.

With a standard course of the disease, the symptoms are unchanged, with the exception of an increase in temperature:

• sore throat, swelling of the nasopharynx;
• rhinitis, difficulty breathing through the nose, mucous discharge from the nose;
• sneezing;
• dry cough, gradually turning into a wet cough;
• muscle pain, a feeling of aches throughout the body.

Most acute respiratory viral infections begin with a sore throat, mucous discharge from the nose, a feeling of malaise. Since the temperature values are unchanged or even underestimated, there may be severe weakness, apathy, the patient is constantly sleepy, irritability may appear.

If normal temperature gradually turns into hypothermia (decrease in temperature), then you need to consult a doctor.

Cough with ARVI without fever

First, let's figure out why coughing occurs during ARVI - it serves as a protective reaction of our body. With the help of the cough reflex, the respiratory tract tries to free itself from secretions (phlegm), and also to reduce irritation of the respiratory organs from the waste products of viruses and bacteria.

If the cough during ARVI occurs without a temperature, then most often the patients continue to go to work or school in this condition. This situation is unacceptable, because the patient is a source of viral infection, and the disease itself can be complicated, for example, by bacterial pathology.

If the cough not only does not go away, but also gets worse, this may be a sign of the spread of the inflammatory process to the lower respiratory tract. If the temperature in this case does not rise further, this indicates serious problems with the immune system. The body does not fight, and the patient's condition worsens - of course, there is nothing good about this. It is necessary to consult a specialist, because the disease can be complicated by bronchitis, pneumonia. In addition, the acute process can develop into a chronic one, chronic pharyngolaryngitis or bronchitis will occur.

Therefore, if a patient coughs, a doctor should be consulted regardless of whether he has a fever or not. It is much easier to prevent complications than to try to cure them later.

ARI in a child without fever

In early childhood (up to 3 years), ARVI in a child without fever can often occur. Specialists attribute this situation to an incompletely formed thermoregulatory apparatus, as well as not fully developed neural mechanisms (connections). But, even if the temperature values are normal, and the baby has other symptoms of ARVI, it is still necessary to take the child to the doctor.

Among other things, a child may develop a cough against the background of ARVI, which is explained by the high vulnerability of the mucous tissues of the child's respiratory system. If the child otherwise feels well, and no wheezing occurs during breathing, then there is no particular reason for concern. However, the doctor's instructions should still be followed.

A child with signs of ARVI, but without fever, should stay at home and not attend preschool or school, at least because there is a potential danger of the infectious and inflammatory process transitioning from acute to chronic. At an early age, all inflammatory diseases tend to spread throughout the body. For this reason, a child, even without fever, should be shown to a pediatrician.

It is difficult to say what an acute respiratory viral infection with a normal temperature can result in for a child, since it directly depends on the state of his immune system.

ARI without fever during pregnancy

During pregnancy, women's immunity is weakened and depressed. This is not only due to hormonal changes. Another reason for the weakness of the immune defense is that special conditions are created in the body so that the synthesized antibodies are not so strong as to attack the unborn child as a foreign body. This is a very subtle and thoughtful move by nature. The body of a pregnant woman should be tuned only to support the pregnancy, despite the fact that during this period it is weakened to the effects of viral and other infections.

Of course, acute respiratory viral infections are not uncommon during pregnancy, as are colds, runny noses, etc. And in such situations, the expectant mother should be especially attentive to her body.

If an infectious disease occurs without a rise in temperature, this is not a reason to ignore the symptoms from the point of view of "nothing to worry about, it will go away on its own." The absence of temperature does not mean that there is no inflammatory process in the body. Moreover, an inadequate reaction of the thermoregulation system to the penetration of a viral infection can often indicate that the woman's immune system is so weak that it simply cannot "turn on" a rise in temperature. And if the expectant mother continues to do her usual things during the illness, go to work and ride public transport, then the risk of a secondary infection and the development of complications increases many times over.

There is no need to allow negative consequences: contact a doctor, he will prescribe treatment and will definitely issue a certificate of temporary disability.

Diagnostics

Of course, diagnosing ARVI without fever is a bit more difficult than with the classic course of the disease. After all, elevated temperature values are one of the symptoms of a viral disease. In this case, other signs of ARVI come to the rescue:

• assessment of the epidemiological situation in a locality, in a family, at work or at a place of study;
• the order in which symptoms of a viral infection appear;
• characteristics of cough, sputum and mucous discharge from the nose.

The type of pathogen can be accurately determined only by laboratory tests that detect viral antigens. In this case, the immunofluorescence reaction or detection of antibodies to viruses is used.

To clarify the diagnosis, in rare cases, serological reactions are used in paired serums, which are removed at the initial stage of the disease and during the recovery process.

Treatment of acute respiratory viral infections without fever

As we have already said before, the absence of temperature during ARVI often tells us about weak immune protection. For this reason, the first thing to do is to take care of supporting the immune system, that is, to give the body rest, protect it from stress and additional loads, ensure adequate sleep and nutrition.

In case of weakness of the body and other symptoms of ARVI, it is recommended to carry out warming procedures. Warm drinks, hot foot baths, a warm blanket, woolen socks, a foot warmer will do. These methods of treatment can be used separately or combined together. Dress warmly enough, avoid drafts, but do not forget to ventilate the room.

In order to support and strengthen the immune system, it is recommended to take adaptogenic agents: tinctures of ginseng, echinacea, eleutherococcus, magnolia vine, etc. Such drugs can be taken for one to two months in a row.

Also, for the full functioning of the immune defense, it is important to have a sufficient supply of all vitamins and microelements. A balanced nutritional diet, additional intake of multivitamins can replenish the deficiency of all substances necessary for the normal functioning of the body.

Medicines for acute respiratory viral infections with normal temperature are prescribed as symptomatic treatment. No later than the second day from the onset of the disease, antiviral drugs are taken:

• adamantane series (rimantadine);
• neuraminidase inhibitor drugs (Tamiflu, Relenza);
• interferon inducers (cycloferon).

For a runny nose, use vasoconstrictor nasal drops or sprays (naphthyzinum, NOC spray).

For coughs – mucolytic (expectorant) drugs (mucaltin, solvin, etc.).

In addition, as prescribed by a doctor, you can take ascorbic acid and multivitamins.

How to get a sick leave certificate?

Many people are interested in the question of whether it is possible to get a sick leave certificate for ARVI without a temperature? Indeed, a few years ago, a certificate was issued based mainly on temperature readings. However, this is fundamentally wrong, since many infectious diseases, including ARVI, often occur with normal temperature readings.

Definitely, in case of viral infections, a sick leave should be issued in all cases of visiting a doctor, since the patient may pose a threat to the health of others. Currently, a sick leave is issued despite the absence of a temperature, of course, if other symptoms of the disease are present. And the more pronounced the other signs of the disease, the more likely it is that a sick leave will be issued.

Pregnant women with viral diseases are entitled to sick leave in any case.

So, feel free to see a doctor, even if you have an acute respiratory viral infection without a fever. Normal indicators are not a reason to endure the disease "on your feet".