Suggest Treatment For Viral Fever

Posted on Fri, 19 Dec 2014

Question: I attended a professional society meeting in San XXXXXXX a couple of weeks ago. On my last day there, I started to feel a fever coming on. By the time I got home it had turned into full-blown flu. I have done the bed rest and fluids thing, with aspirin or tylenol to reduce the fever. After a week of this went in to see my doctor, who told me to tough it out - he also prescribed an antibiotic (clarithromycin) just in case there was an opportunistic bacterial infection. The last couple of days I've felt a bit better, but (a) the congestion in my chest is still awful and (b) I am now registering a *low* temperature 96-97º F.) with occasional chills/sweats at night. Energy level down. Should I be concerned?

Answered by Dr. Noble Zachariah (40 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
A bacterial or prolonged viral infection

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

Welcome to HCM
You started with a viral infection and now probably have a bacterial infection which sometimes follows a viral infection or just a prolonged viral infection.
If you are not better after a course of Clarithromycin, it would be better to investigate with a hemogram and chest Xray.
If you are taking a medicine like Tylenol now, it may be responsible for the low range temperature. Please stop the same and if you feel chills, check the temperature at that time.
Wish you a quick recovery.

Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..

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