Suggest Treatment For Headache, Chills, Fever And Nausea

Posted on Sat, 23 Apr 2016

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sat, 23 Apr 2016 Answered on

Mon, 13 Jun 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : Husband is 61 yo, relatively healthy. Arrived back from usvi last Sunday. Came back exhausted, otherwise ok. Monday night had headache, chills, then fever. Bit of nausea. Pushed liquids, couldn't sleep for 2 nights.stayed home from work which,is very unusual. Started to fee better Thursday evening. Ate a good meal, trouble sleeping and woke up Friday (today) with worse headache ever. Went to ER. Vitals normal, cbc normal, CT scan normal. Given torodol, Dilaudid Via IV. Discharged. Headache 5 out of 10. Stopped to eat dinner at his insistence. Felt better. Arrived home, headached worsened. Took rx of 2 Percocet, 1 ketorolac, 1 Zofran. 4 hrs later headache back to 10 and feels like stabbing pain moving around head. Took second dose of above Rx. Temp 100.8. Trying to sleep but having trouble. What do you advise?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Muhammad Sareer Khalil (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Explained

Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome

I appreciate your concern

Based on your description, meningitis needs to be ruled out. Idiopathic intracranial hypertension is another possibility. If the CT scan was done with contrast then meninges enhancement on CT would point towards meningitis. CSF examination via lumbar puncture can be indicated as the primary investigation in this regard. CSF opening pressure should also be measured. The clinical picture of fever , neck stiffness and photophobia should be looked for. And the decision should be taken accordingly.

please consult your doctor before taking any further course of action

Wishing you best of health

Thanks

Dr M.S Khalil

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar