Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
What Causes Fever, Body Aches, Weakness, Chest Pain And Excessive Sweating?
Question: I came home about noon today and found my 72 year old wife, XXXXXXX in bed with a fever and achey body. She felt something coming on last night and took XXXXXXX Seltzer Plus Cold before going to bed. When I arrived home, she was burning up, so I gave her two 500mg acetaminophen and applied cool compresses on her forehead and neck. After about an hour, the fever subsided and she rested. I went to the kitchen and heard a noise in the bathroom. She had gotten up from bed to use the toilet, but collapsed on the bathroom floor. She was conscious when I got there, but she could not stand up. She was very weak and her skin was pale, cool and clammy. She wanted to lay on the cool tile so I put a towel under her head and covered her with a bath towel while monitoring her. After several minutes I helped her get to the toilet and also held a bucket so she could vomit. She did not vomit. After finishing in the toilet, I got her back in bed and she drank some water and some coke. She slept.
At 6:00 I gave her another dose of XXXXXXX Seltzer Plus Cold. She is now sitting up in bed. No longer has a fever, her skin is not clammy, but her body aches; especially her shoulders and lower back. Also, her belly hurts - band across the midsection -- she said she feels a sharp pain when she takes a deep breath.
She is a healthy person doing yoga and workouts 5 days a week. This is very unusual. Is this the flu? What else should I do? Thank you, XXXX
At 6:00 I gave her another dose of XXXXXXX Seltzer Plus Cold. She is now sitting up in bed. No longer has a fever, her skin is not clammy, but her body aches; especially her shoulders and lower back. Also, her belly hurts - band across the midsection -- she said she feels a sharp pain when she takes a deep breath.
She is a healthy person doing yoga and workouts 5 days a week. This is very unusual. Is this the flu? What else should I do? Thank you, XXXX
Brief Answer:
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome on HCM!
I passed carefully through your wife's medical history and would like to explain that her actual clinical scenario may be caused by an acute inflammatory/infectious disorder.
Her fever, body ache, profound weakness are strong indicators of this possibility.
Her sharp pain while taking deep breaths raises suspicions on pleural or pericardial layers inflammation.
As she has experienced excessive sweating (clammy skin) and subsequent dehydration, she needs to be well re hydrated and further explored regarding the exact responsible cause of her complaints.
For this reason, I recommend asking immediate medical assistance at the nearest ER service or her attending doctor for a careful physical exam and some additional medical tests as follows:
- complete blood count,
- complete urine analysis,
- PCR,
- ESR,
- CPK,
- LDH,
- liver and renal function tests,
- blood electrolytes level,
- chest X ray study,
- resting ECG
A good re-hydration, possibly with intravenous fluid and correction of any electrolytes imbalances would restore the body status to normality.
In case of persistent pain or clear evidence of infection, appropriate antibiotics therapy and anti-inflammatory drugs would be recommended.
Hope to have been helpful to you!
In case of any further uncertainties, feel free to ask me again.
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome on HCM!
I passed carefully through your wife's medical history and would like to explain that her actual clinical scenario may be caused by an acute inflammatory/infectious disorder.
Her fever, body ache, profound weakness are strong indicators of this possibility.
Her sharp pain while taking deep breaths raises suspicions on pleural or pericardial layers inflammation.
As she has experienced excessive sweating (clammy skin) and subsequent dehydration, she needs to be well re hydrated and further explored regarding the exact responsible cause of her complaints.
For this reason, I recommend asking immediate medical assistance at the nearest ER service or her attending doctor for a careful physical exam and some additional medical tests as follows:
- complete blood count,
- complete urine analysis,
- PCR,
- ESR,
- CPK,
- LDH,
- liver and renal function tests,
- blood electrolytes level,
- chest X ray study,
- resting ECG
A good re-hydration, possibly with intravenous fluid and correction of any electrolytes imbalances would restore the body status to normality.
In case of persistent pain or clear evidence of infection, appropriate antibiotics therapy and anti-inflammatory drugs would be recommended.
Hope to have been helpful to you!
In case of any further uncertainties, feel free to ask me again.
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
