HEADACHES, OTHER INFECTIONS: SELF-HELP
For most febrile illnesses, paracetamol and/or aspirin, fluids, and bed rest are all that is needed. Don’t worry if the patient doesn’t eat for a few days; it doesn’t matter. Even in small children a period of up to a week without food is unlikely to cause any problems; after all, that’s what fat stores are for! Just make sure there’s an adequate intake of fluid, which is simply enough fluids to ensure that the patient is passing water regularly.
Uncomplicated viral infections don’t need a doctor. On the other hand, you should call the doctor if other symptoms occur, such as: earache, coloured sputum, or jaundice; if the patient seems particularly ill or is getting much worse; if there is pre-existing disease such as diabetes, chest disease or heart trouble. If the sufferer is very old or young you will probably want to call the doctor earlier, too. It’s also worth contacting the doctor if they don’t seem to improve after three or four days.
Most febrile illnesses start to resolve themselves after a few days, and there is normally little that the doctor can do, other than advise treatment of the symptoms with paracetamol and fluids. It’s only the complications of viral infections that the doctor can treat.
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