Can a recurring fever indicate a risk of COVID-19?

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

As you have described your symptoms such as recurring fever, which subsides temporarily on taking medication and comes back again, there could be various reasons associated with it.

Please answer the following questions, which will help me to diagnose you better.

Do you also have chills along with fever? Does fever comes at any specific time like evening or night? Do you have any other symptoms associated with fever (like cough, altered taste or smell)?

Have you come in contact with any positive COVID-19 patient knowingly or unknowingly? Do you have any allergies? What is the environmental condition where you live right now?

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

Since you are living in a place where the prevalence of the disease is very high, there might be a chance that you may have acquired the infection.

You are advised to undergo the following tests to determine the source of infection and assess your systemic status:

Swab test for COVID-19 (RT-PCR): This is essential to rule out viral infection, especially since you are in a high-prevalence zone.

Complete Blood Count (CBC): Helps evaluate the degree of infection and confirm trends in TLC and eosinophils.

Liver Function Test (LFT): To check if fever or infection is affecting liver enzymes in any way.

Renal Function Test (RFT): Important to ensure the kidneys are functioning well during illness.

ESR (Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate): Helps detect the presence and severity of inflammation.

Urine Routine Examination: Useful for identifying urinary infections or dehydration-related changes.

Rapid antigen test for malaria: Necessary because malaria often presents with fever, headache, and loss of appetite.

Based on your symptoms and initial blood findings, the possible causes include:

1. Acute Febrile Illness: A broad category that includes common viral and bacterial infections.

2. COVID-19 Infection: Must be ruled out due to your symptoms and the local prevalence.

3. Malaria: Needs exclusion because fever with headache is a typical presentation.

   I am prescribing a short course of medications, which you may start immediately after discussing with your family physician:

   • Tablet Cefixime 200 mg BD (after food) for five days to cover possible bacterial infection.

   • Tablet Pan 40 OD (30 minutes before food) to reduce acidity and protect the stomach while taking antibiotics.

   • Paracetamol 500 mg as needed (SOS) for fever or headache relief.

   • Tablet Limcee (Vitamin C) once daily to improve immunity and support healing.

   These medicines should help in reducing your symptoms significantly over the next few days.

Please maintain good hydration by drinking at least eight to 10 glasses of water daily. Ensure adequate rest, avoid outside or unhygienic food, and maintain physical distancing until COVID-19 is ruled out completely.

Wearing a mask and practising hand hygiene regularly will help prevent further transmission or reinfection. Kindly upload all the reports of the investigations once completed, so I can review them and guide you further.

Continue the medications for five days as advised, and keep me informed about how your symptoms progress during this period.

I hope this helps you.

Thankyou