What Causes High Grade Fever, Chills And Vomiting?

Posted on Wed, 21 Dec 2016

Question: My husband, 59 and in good health, who only takes one aspirin per day (no other drugs) just had a sudden episode of very violent shaking and chills, vomiting, and a fever of 104.4. Today he went to the Optometrist for a scratched cornea and used an eye drop antibiotic (Ofloxacin). Also, he ate barbeque, rice & hash for lunch after being very low-carb for over two years. He had two episodes of violent shaking and chills today, the first one 30 minutes after eating the lunch and getting the eye drops. His fever went down to 100.9 after 30 minutes. His BP is ranging from 147/105 to 112/71, heart rate 122. What concerns me most is the extremely violent nature of his shaking during the chills, and that his fever was likely higher than 104.4 during the worst of it, but he wasn't able to calm his breathing enough to use the thermometer.
The aspirin he takes on his own, not doctor's orders, just for general heart health. He does not have high BP, it only registered high right after his episode of severe chills & fever. It went back down to normal afterward. He is taking Ibuprofin, is Paracetamol better? He has no stomach pain or cramps, and no diarrhea, but do you think it could be food poisoning? At the Optometrist this morning, he was warned about possible infection from the scratched cornea, which is why he's on antibiotic eye drops. He hasn't seen another doctor since the Optometrist, which was before the fever & chills.

Answered by Dr. Manish Purohit (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
It could be because of some kimd of infection .

Detailed Answer:
dear madam ,
thanks for posting your query to HCM.
high grade fever with chills and shaking could be due to some kind of infection . it xould be parasitic , viral or bacterial in origin .
initially to subside fever do cold sponging of body and give Paracetamol tablet .
further I need some more information :
1.why he is on aspirin
2 is fever associated with cough or pain in abdomen or burning in urine or neck stiffnesa or pain in joint or rashea on skin or any other feature .
3 what medication he is taking for his hypertension .
4 did you had any investigation .

first I suggest to take aspirin after consulting your cardiologist .
second paracetamol is saffer than ibuprofen so I prefer this drug.
third your feature do not suggestive of food poisoning .
so presently I suggest to take only paracetamol in adult dose and cold sponging to sub side fever as I think it as a viral.illness
give him good nutrition and plenty of water to maintain hydration .
if fever peesist contact to near by health center and investigated to diagnose the cause .
thanks .
get back to me with required information for further managment .

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. REMY KOSHY