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What Causes Persistent Fever And Headaches?
Posted on
Sat, 18 Mar 2017
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Sat, 18 Mar 2017
Answered on
Sat, 8 Apr 2017
Last reviewed on
Question : I have what I believe is a flu. First, I noticed aching muscles at night, headache. Then, a low grade temperature of 99.9. That was a week ago. Since then, the temperature has gone lower at its high point, and even reached normal a few morings. I missed work, and then went back, thinking it was all gone. Then, today my fever came back, and I feel as badly as I did a week ago. Do you think it could be bacterial instead? Because it's gone on for so long? I mean, do I need to go to urgent care and ask for a test for strep or other bacterial infection (maybe sinus?)? Thank you
Brief Answer:
Questions so that I can help:
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I have a few questions for you to try to sort this out:
1. What other symptoms are you having other than low grade fever, muscle aches and headache?
2. Do you have a stiff neck?
3. How many days have you had the 3 symptoms you described?
4. How high has your fever been at it's highest?
5. Do you have a sore throat, sinus pressure or drainage, or swollen glands?
Questions so that I can help:
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I have a few questions for you to try to sort this out:
1. What other symptoms are you having other than low grade fever, muscle aches and headache?
2. Do you have a stiff neck?
3. How many days have you had the 3 symptoms you described?
4. How high has your fever been at it's highest?
5. Do you have a sore throat, sinus pressure or drainage, or swollen glands?
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
1. stiff neck, tired, headaches* (some nights)
2. yes
3. 7 days with the reported fever; the aches began two nights earlier (9 days all together if you count this, including today).
The fever has gone up and down a lot.
4. 99.9% has been the highest; last night 99.0 (my "normal" is 97.8). Right now, it's at 97.7).
5. The back of my throat feels "scratchy,: but only the last few nights. Seems to go away in the daytime.
*I do have allergies, so I think the headaches are related to the allergies, as I've had these kind of symptoms before. I've also had sinus infections, but I don't recall the same symptoms. With a sinus infection, I have stuffy nose, which I don't with this.
2. yes
3. 7 days with the reported fever; the aches began two nights earlier (9 days all together if you count this, including today).
The fever has gone up and down a lot.
4. 99.9% has been the highest; last night 99.0 (my "normal" is 97.8). Right now, it's at 97.7).
5. The back of my throat feels "scratchy,: but only the last few nights. Seems to go away in the daytime.
*I do have allergies, so I think the headaches are related to the allergies, as I've had these kind of symptoms before. I've also had sinus infections, but I don't recall the same symptoms. With a sinus infection, I have stuffy nose, which I don't with this.
Brief Answer:
Information
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
With the combination of stiff neck, headache, and fever (even if low grade), I recommend going in to be seen.
A sinus infection usually has more sinus type symptoms such as pressure in the sinus areas, nasal symptoms or lots of drainage down the back of the throat. It would be unlikely for it to cause a stiff neck.
Strep throat causes fever and usually tender lymph nodes in the neck under the jaw or near the ear, but not a stiff neck.
Allergies can cause the scratchy throat you described, and a frontal area headache, but not a fever, and not a stiff neck.
So - I recommend you go in to be seen. Either your doctor, if he/she has hours this afternoon, or an urgent care clinic. An exam of your nose, throat, sinuses (via percussion), lungs, abdomen, neck and a brief neuro exam should be done. A CBC with differential should be done to check for response to infection. A throat swab for influenza and strep would be reasonable. And depending on what the physical exam findings are, other tests may be needed too.
But at this point, I do recommend going in. I am concerned about the constellation of fever (even if low and intermittent), stiff neck, and headaches.
Information
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
With the combination of stiff neck, headache, and fever (even if low grade), I recommend going in to be seen.
A sinus infection usually has more sinus type symptoms such as pressure in the sinus areas, nasal symptoms or lots of drainage down the back of the throat. It would be unlikely for it to cause a stiff neck.
Strep throat causes fever and usually tender lymph nodes in the neck under the jaw or near the ear, but not a stiff neck.
Allergies can cause the scratchy throat you described, and a frontal area headache, but not a fever, and not a stiff neck.
So - I recommend you go in to be seen. Either your doctor, if he/she has hours this afternoon, or an urgent care clinic. An exam of your nose, throat, sinuses (via percussion), lungs, abdomen, neck and a brief neuro exam should be done. A CBC with differential should be done to check for response to infection. A throat swab for influenza and strep would be reasonable. And depending on what the physical exam findings are, other tests may be needed too.
But at this point, I do recommend going in. I am concerned about the constellation of fever (even if low and intermittent), stiff neck, and headaches.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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