Causes of high fever, nausea and vomiting, headache
The patient has a high temperature, nausea, headache - these signs do not provide a complete understanding of the reasons for poor health. To determine them, additional examinations are prescribed that will help identify hidden pathologies. Doctors at the Clinical Institute of the Brain insist that during the examination it is important to tell all the details, when the first signs began, in which area the pain occurs and with what frequency.
Intoxication
The first reason why headache, nausea and vomiting can occur simultaneously, and the temperature rises is poisoning. The clinical picture is associated with the entry of toxins into the body by any means. They can penetrate with food, inhaled air, through the skin and mucous membranes. Depending on this, there are several main types of poisoning. They cause similar symptoms, so it is important to promptly determine which substance caused the intoxication.
- Food poisoning is the most common option. Symptoms appear several hours after eating poisonous or spoiled foods. The patient experiences nausea, vomiting, headache and general weakness. In case of food poisoning, taking sorbents and gastric lavage are indicated.
- Poisoning with drugs and alcohol develops according to a similar pattern. Their main cause is overdose. Both the metabolic products of ethyl alcohol and medicinal substances are strong toxins. In excess, they accumulate in tissues, poison nerve tissue, and affect brain function.
- Poisoning with pesticides is one of the dangerous types. The reason may be a violation of the rules for using preparations for treating soil and premises against pests. If they come into contact with the skin, wash them off immediately with water. If they enter the body with food, you should immediately consult a doctor and take a saline laxative.
- Carbon monoxide poisoning is a specific situation that can occur during a fire, as well as during inhalation of this gas in transport, industry or agriculture. When the first signs appear, the victim is evacuated from the danger zone, oxygen and symptomatic agents are used for treatment.
Mild poisoning can be treated at home. For this, bed rest and drinking plenty of fluids are indicated to reduce the concentration of toxins in the blood. Moderate and severe cases of intoxication require hospitalization and hospital procedures. The patient may be prescribed IVs, gastric lavage, and medications to restore the balance of electrolytes in the blood.
Infectious diseases
One of the most common causes of nausea, vomiting, headache, weakness, and fever is infectious diseases. Viruses and bacteria penetrate the gastrointestinal tract and multiply on the mucous membrane. Children are at risk because their immune system is not strong enough and cannot fully fight infection. There are several diseases that can cause a typical clinical picture.
- Stomach (intestinal) flu - the causative agent is rotavirus. The disease develops when consuming poorly washed foods (often vegetables and fruits), as well as contaminated drinking water. Characteristic symptoms are fever, acute abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, and headaches. Treatment is symptomatic; the patient may need to be admitted to a hospital.
- Enteroviruses are diseases caused by enteroviruses. The pathogen is very stable in the external environment, so a person can easily become infected through food or water of questionable quality. At the onset of the disease, fever, abdominal pain, fever and weakness are observed. Over time, the infection can spread to the muscles, heart, nervous system and other internal organs.
- Toxic infections are a group of diseases caused by bacteria. The clinical picture is provoked by toxic waste products of microorganisms that poison organs and tissues. Toxins enter the bloodstream, spread throughout the body, causing a sharp deterioration in health, headaches and digestive disorders. Toxic infections include salmonellosis, staphylococcosis, clostridiosis, botulism.
Treatment is prescribed individually. If a bacterial infection is present, a course of antibiotics is prescribed and a regimen of symptomatic therapy is selected. The patient may need to be hospitalized and treated in an infectious diseases hospital.
Thermoneurosis
Under stress, prolonged tension, and fatigue, a person may experience high fever, nausea, and headache. The state of health deteriorates sharply, while the test results are within normal limits. In addition, pain in muscles and joints appears. The disease must be distinguished from pathologies of the thyroid gland, infectious diseases, and disturbances in the functioning of the thermoregulation center in the brain. For this, all the necessary studies are carried out, and a diagnosis can be made only after excluding other diseases. A characteristic sign is that after taking aspirin, the temperature does not decrease, as with viral infections and inflammatory processes.
Thermoneurosis usually goes away on its own within a few days. The main recommendations are rest, proper nutrition and moderate exercise. However, it can develop as a consequence of traumatic brain injury. In this case, treatment includes taking medications to improve cerebral circulation, physiotherapy and other techniques.
Brain diseases
Symptoms such as high fever, nausea, vomiting, and headache can signal dangerous disorders of the central nervous system. They can be caused by infectious pathogens, injuries, and various abnormalities in the development of structures. In addition, with such a clinical picture, it is important to exclude the possibility of tumors in the brain.
Meningitis
Meningitis is an inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord. It can manifest itself as an independent disease or as a complication of other pathologies. Its cause is a viral, bacterial or fungal infection, and mixed varieties are also isolated. The greatest danger is bacterial meningitis, as it can lead to purulent inflammation.
The disease manifests itself in a characteristic picture:
- acute headaches, which are often concentrated in the back of the head;
- a sharp increase in temperature to critical levels;
- neck muscle tension;
- nausea, vomiting;
- fainting, unconsciousness, lack of coordination.
According to the nature of the course, they distinguish between chronic, acute and fulminant meningitis. The latter option poses a danger to the patient's life. It is severe and requires immediate medical attention. Even if you consult a doctor in a timely manner, there is a possibility of complications in the form of hearing loss, vision loss, and constant headaches.
Encephalitis
Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain. This is a dangerous condition that can lead to disruption of vital functions and death. In most cases, encephalitis is caused by infectious agents and occurs in an acute form. Its main symptoms are headache, nausea, fever, hearing and vision impairment, as well as other signs.
Encephalitis can develop as a complication of viral or bacterial diseases, as well as as an independent pathology. There are two main types of it:
- encephalitis in epidemic form (caused by various viruses that spread quickly, including polio);
- sporadic cases (consequences of herpes, rabies, chicken pox and other diseases).
Tick-borne encephalitis poses a high degree of danger. The pathogen enters the bloodstream during the bite of an infected tick, spreads throughout the body and reaches the brain. 1–2 weeks after the bite, the victim begins to have a sharp headache, nausea, and the temperature rises to high levels. The disease is dangerous due to extensive damage to brain tissue, as well as inflammation of the cranial nerves.
Traumatic brain injuries
Headache, nausea and vomiting are common signs of traumatic brain injury. It is caused by a fall or blow, which leads to damage to nerve tissue. The most common form of traumatic brain injury is a concussion. The condition can be diagnosed by the following signs:
- acute pain in the area of impact, which spreads to the entire surface of the head;
- nausea, vomiting;
- possible loss of consciousness, short-term amnesia;
- pallor of the skin and mucous membranes;
- arrhythmia, cardiac dysfunction;
- The duration of symptoms is no more than 7–10 days.
Traumatic brain injury is characterized by fainting and memory loss. Recovery time depends on the severity of the damage, the patient’s age and other factors. Headaches can persist long after the injury. The reason is prolonged hypoxia (oxygen deficiency), as well as insufficient blood supply to brain cells.
Inner ear diseases
It is important to distinguish diseases of the inner ear from disorders of the brain and acute infectious diseases. They also manifest themselves as headache, nausea, loss of coordination and other symptoms. This organ has a complex structure and is responsible not only for hearing, but also for balance. There are several pathologies that can develop in adults and children.
- Labyrinthitis is an inflammatory process that affects the inner ear. It often develops as a complication of otitis and can occur in a purulent form. The patient experiences acute headache, nausea and vomiting, and hearing loss. In advanced cases, purulent discharge from the ear may occur.
- Vestibular neuritis is an inflammation of the nerve that innervates the inner ear. The disease most often develops with viral infections, including those that affect the upper respiratory tract. The main symptom of vestibular neuritis is a sharp headache, weakness, and possibly fever. Hearing acuity remains within the same limits.
- Meniere's disease is a rare disease that causes headaches, nausea, and vomiting. An increased amount of fluid forms and accumulates in the cavities of the inner ear and exerts additional pressure. The patient may experience symptoms such as impaired coordination of movements, memory lapses, deterioration or complete loss of hearing.
Diseases of the inner ear are very dangerous and can lead to complications if not treated promptly. Hearing loss and chronic headaches are common consequences of inflammation of the labyrinth. In addition, during infectious processes, there is a possibility of bacterial infection spreading to the tissue of the brain and its membranes, and the development of meningitis or encephalitis.
Causes of high fever, nausea, headache
This set of symptoms can appear even in a person without any diseases. Nausea, headache, temperature up to 37 degrees occur during severe fatigue, stress, nervous or physical tension. In addition, these signs are characteristic of heat stroke. They pass in a few days, provided proper rest. However, these symptoms may also indicate more dangerous disorders that require treatment, medications and regular examinations by a doctor.
Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract
Fever, nausea, and headache are typical signs of inflammatory diseases of the stomach and intestines. They are also accompanied by abdominal pain, indigestion, and intolerance to certain foods. There are several main diseases that are often diagnosed in patients of any gender and age.
- Gastritis is inflammation of the gastric mucosa. The disease can occur in acute or chronic form. Its main cause is considered to be the opportunistic bacterium Helicobacter pilori; other pathogens can also be detected. Inflammation develops as a result of poor nutrition, impaired secretion of gastric juice, as well as long-term systematic intake of alcohol and certain medications. When the cause is eliminated, gastritis goes away without consequences.
- Gastric ulcer is a consequence of frequent exacerbation of gastritis, improper and irregular nutrition, taking certain groups of drugs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), as well as increased secretion of gastric juice. Defects appear on the mucous membrane and increase in size. Without timely treatment and adherence to a diet, the ulcer may perforate with the formation of a defect in the stomach wall and the release of its contents to the outside.
- Crohn's disease is a chronic disease whose cause remains unknown. It affects the mucous membrane of certain areas of the large, less often small, intestine. During the diagnosis, inflammation of the mucous membrane, the appearance of ulcers and neoplasms, and narrowing of the intestinal lumen are detected. Treatment is symptomatic and surgery may be required to remove the affected area.
Diseases of the stomach and intestines require timely treatment. They quickly become chronic and progress. The doctor will determine the cause and stage of the disease and prescribe a treatment regimen. In most cases, a gentle diet is prescribed, in which it is recommended to eat food in small portions. Fatty, sweet, flour and fried foods, as well as offal, should be completely excluded from the diet.
Infectious diseases
A simple seasonal cold, ARVI, is a common occurrence. They are associated with a decrease in the body's immune defense during the off-season, bad weather conditions and a deficiency of vitamins in the diet. When you have a cold, you have a headache, nausea, the temperature rises to 37 degrees or more, and general weakness appears. However, these symptoms last no more than a week. Rest, bed rest, and drinking plenty of fluids helps you quickly return to normal.
Infections that affect the digestive tract pose a great danger to humans. These diseases occur with signs of nausea, vomiting, and general weakness. There are several diseases that can be contracted by consuming poorly washed vegetables and fruits, low-quality products, and contaminated water.
- Rotavirus infection – also called stomach or intestinal flu. The disease occurs with general weakness, fever, nausea, and can manifest itself in an acute form. In most cases, treatment takes place at home, but hospitalization may be required.
- Salmonellosis is a disease caused by the Salmonella bacterium. Infection often occurs when eating meat and eggs that have not been heat-treated. The infection causes severe pain in the head and stomach, nausea and vomiting. After confirmation of the diagnosis, the patient is placed in an infectious diseases hospital and treated with antibiotics.
- Botulism is a dangerous disease caused by a bacterium. In the human body, it releases toxins that cause severe pain, nausea and vomiting, weakness and fever.
- Clostridiosis and staphylococcosis are no less dangerous toxic infections that occur with similar symptoms. They affect the mucous membrane of the digestive tract, and toxins cause general weakness and poor health. Treatment takes place in a hospital.
Infectious diseases are characterized by an acute onset. Nausea, vomiting, and headache occur abruptly, but in some patients the clinical picture increases gradually. It is important to consult a doctor and begin treatment at the first symptoms in order to reduce the risks to the body and the likelihood of complications.
Parasite infestations
Helminths are parasitic worms that enter the body with water or food and can be found on environmental objects. After entering the body, they go through a development cycle and multiply. Their waste products are toxic to humans, so helminthiases are accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and general weakness. In addition, a large accumulation of parasites in the intestinal lumen is dangerous due to rupture of its wall.
To confirm the diagnosis it is necessary to undergo tests. Blood, feces or other liquids are used as research material. It is important to pay attention to the first symptoms indicating the appearance of helminths, including:
- sudden weight loss without changing your diet;
- frequent attacks of nausea;
- pain in the head and stomach;
- slight increase in temperature;
- pallor of the skin and mucous membranes, possibly a yellowish tint.
It is important that helminths can live not only in the human gastrointestinal tract. Some representatives affect the liver, lungs, heart, and can migrate with blood and lymph. The smallest ones affect blood cells and cause their destruction. Treatment is prescribed individually, depending on the type of parasite and the degree of invasion. The scheme includes several stages, during which the patient needs to take specific drugs, and then - means to restore normal microflora.
Brain diseases
Fever, nausea, weakness, headache - these signs can be a signal of various brain diseases. They are based on inflammation or mechanical compression of tissues, as a result of which the innervation of certain parts of the body is disrupted. These are dangerous disorders that require treatment in the early stages - this is the only way to prevent dangerous consequences.
- Meningitis is an inflammation of the lining of the brain. The disease has a viral or bacterial origin, less often it is caused by fungi. Fever and headache are the first symptoms for which it is important to immediately consult a doctor. Treatment takes place in a hospital, with the use of antibiotics and drugs to improve blood circulation in the brain.
- Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain. The process develops when exposed to infectious agents and can manifest itself in polio, rabies, smallpox and other diseases. Encephalitis can also be caused by bites from infected ticks. The disease is particularly dangerous and can be fatal. At home, you can prevent it by treating blood-sucking insects and timely vaccination.
- Stroke is an acute disorder of cerebral circulation. It can be caused by insufficient blood supply to brain cells (ischemia) or rupture of a vessel with the formation of a hematoma. The first symptoms may be slight weakness, headaches, nausea, but the condition is life-threatening. The chances of full recovery are especially high if you see a doctor in the first 2 hours after the attack.
- Traumatic brain injuries are the reason why fever, nausea and headache bother a person even after a long time.
Symptoms of inflammatory diseases of the brain appear sharply and immediately cause an acute clinical picture. Headache and nausea do not go away even after taking medications, and only get worse over time. Doctors at the Clinical Institute of the Brain warn: the effectiveness of treatment depends on the timeliness of first aid. Otherwise, there may be irreversible disruption of many brain functions and death of nerve tissue.
Poisoning
Intoxication of the body with food, alcohol and medications, as well as various gaseous substances is a dangerous condition. Toxins penetrate the bloodstream and quickly spread throughout organs and tissues. The patient’s well-being deteriorates immediately, within several hours after exposure to toxic compounds. The clinical picture of poisoning includes the following symptoms:
- nausea and vomiting;
- acute headache, dizziness, fainting;
- indigestion, diarrhea;
- pallor of the mucous membranes;
- possible increase in temperature;
- arrhythmias, increased heart rate.
In case of poisoning with certain substances, you can use antidotes. These are compounds that neutralize the effects of toxins and promote rapid improvement in well-being. However, for most types of poisoning there are no antidotes. Treatment consists of drinking plenty of fluids, fasting, and drips of electrolyte solutions. These measures will restore normal blood balance and reduce the concentration of toxic substances.
Other reasons
Deterioration in well-being can be caused by various factors. Nausea, fever, headache indicate various inflammatory processes, disruptions in the functioning of various organs and systems. It is important to pay enough attention to diagnosis to determine the exact cause of deterioration in health. Additional tests may show the following disorders:
- increased blood pressure - in the chronic form, attacks can be triggered by stress, fatigue, and changes in weather conditions;
- diseases of the inner ear - labyrinthitis, Meniere's disease and other pathologies are manifested by acute headache, hearing impairment, and possible discharge from the ear canal;
- disorders of the thyroid gland - they can be determined by the results of blood tests;
- migraine - the disease manifests itself as attacks of headache, which are associated with cerebrovascular insufficiency.
Headache, nausea, deterioration in health, fever are common symptoms that can occur in the absence of any diseases. They often occur in the warm season, as a result of heat stroke. After prolonged exposure to the open sun, a person’s temperature rises and weakness appears. It is important to monitor your well-being in the summer and protect your head and skin from direct sunlight.
Diagnostic methods
Timely diagnosis of high fever, headache, nausea and vomiting is the key to effective treatment. It is important to determine what causes the symptoms and prescribe a treatment regimen that can eliminate the root cause of poor health. To fully understand the picture of the disease, the following examination methods may be prescribed:
- blood pressure measurement and control at home;
- a general blood test is the easiest way to detect inflammatory processes in the body;
- Ultrasound of the gastrointestinal tract;
- culture for suspected bacterial infection with isolation of the exact pathogen;
- MRI or CT scan of the brain if there is a history of traumatic brain injury, as well as if neoplasms are suspected.
The Clinical Brain Institute offers individual diagnostic programs. They are selected taking into account the patient’s complaints and examination data. The scheme includes only those techniques that will reliably determine the cause of high fever, nausea and vomiting, and headache.
Treatment methods
Treatment tactics depend on the exact cause of poor health. The drugs should eliminate not only the symptoms, but also the causes of headache, nausea, vomiting, and high fever. Treatment can be carried out both at home and in a hospital, to allow round-the-clock monitoring of the patient.
- Antibiotic therapy is the main method of treating bacterial diseases and preventing purulent inflammation. Antibiotics are prescribed in the form of tablets or injections.
- Other drugs - the treatment regimen may include taking anti-inflammatory drugs, enterosorbents for disorders of the digestive tract, antispasmodics and drugs for correcting blood pressure.
- Diet is a necessary condition for poisoning, diseases of the stomach and intestines. The diet should not contain fatty foods, sweets, or fried foods, as they can provoke attacks of nausea, vomiting, and headaches.
- Surgical treatment is rarely prescribed. Surgery may be necessary for hematomas in the brain, tumors and other formations that interfere with normal blood circulation.
The Clinical Brain Institute offers comprehensive diagnostic and treatment programs for headaches that are accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and fever. Doctors warn that it is important not to self-medicate, but to contact specialists at the first signs of deterioration in health. Our center has modern, multifunctional equipment, and there is also the opportunity to undergo examinations by specialist and general doctors.
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Volunteers talk about the sensations and side effects of the COVID vaccine
Other side effects that volunteers noticed were headache and mild nausea . Victoria Vasilyeva decided to participate in the vaccine trials for family reasons: in August she returned to Russia from the UK to look after her grandmother, who is 92 years old. “When the [incidence] numbers started to rise, I realized that I wouldn’t be able to sleep peacefully if I knew that I could come home infected, even if I followed all the precautions,” she said.
The girl received her first injection at noon on October 4. “About five o’clock in the evening the malaise began: headache, then the chest, then the lower back and gynecology, and, finally, at night I twisted the muscles of my legs - the pain seemed to go down. There was also weakness and a feeling of temperature, although in fact it was 36.6 degrees. What’s funny is that against the backdrop of this there is a surge of adrenaline and performance,” Vasilyeva said. According to her, after 12 hours the symptoms disappeared. Another week after that I had an aversion to alcohol. After the second injection, my arm hurt and I felt very weak for three days.
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After the drug was administered, a “light veil” appeared before the eyes, PR specialist Andrei Voronkov told RBC. “After both injections, about an hour later, a slight veil appeared before my eyes, my eyes took longer than usual to focus on objects. This state persisted for almost a day. After the second injection, I felt nauseous the entire second day, as if I had car sickness. Again, quite tolerant,” he said. Now the man characterizes his condition as “excellent”, considers the side effects from the vaccine “insignificant” and notes that after vaccinations against influenza and pneumonia he also felt weak and slightly nauseous.
Vaccine trial participant Nikolai Yemets told RBC about his weight loss after vaccination. “The first vaccination was on September 30, the second on October 21. During this time, I lost three kilograms, but perhaps the fact is that now they often ask about health - you involuntarily think about a healthy lifestyle,” he said. Yemets said that he had no fear of vaccination.
The Ministry of Health did not record any serious adverse reactions with favipiravir Society
Volunteers also encountered different levels of vaccination organization - some still had complaints, while others, on the contrary, noticed the excellent organization of the process. “Honestly, everything was very boring. I at least expected a fever, some kind of weakness, like after regular vaccinations. But there was nothing, only pain at the injection site - the injection was given in the shoulder. The pain, however, was atypical, it grew from the second to the fourth day, in the end I could not even lie on my side, and then one day it went away. So, no “special effects,” said volunteer Alexander Samsonov. He decided to test the vaccine after the death of his grandmother and several friends from COVID-19. According to him, now he has developed immunity: the analysis showed high antibodies.
Samsonov added that he has no complaints about the professionalism of the doctors, but he has many complaints about the organizers of the process. “When I came for the first time, many waited without masks and gloves in the general reception corridor for an hour and a half, according to them. So it was possible to get the virus, from which, in fact, you came to be vaccinated. I then waited in the hallway for a medical bracelet to monitor my health for 2.5 hours after the first vaccination. In general, all three times that I was there, people completely managed to get me out of my state of mental balance - this, perhaps, was the most powerful “side effect,” he noted.
In addition, according to Samsonov, three days after the second vaccine he was not once asked about his health. He also said that the mobile phone application that takes readings from the medical bracelet, soon after vaccination, stopped recording blood pressure and saturation, leaving only temperature and heartbeat.
The creators of Sputnik V revealed the proportion of people vaccinated with side effects Society
According to other volunteers, the queues, on the contrary, were small. “There are no queues, maximum one or two people. The doctor sees notes in the “Health Diary” section, which you can enter in the application. If suddenly something bothers you and you indicate it, the doctor quickly calls you back. At the same time, all the results of appointments and tests are displayed in the medical office at State Services,” said Anton Alfer, head of the Fashion Network Group of Companies. He added that after the vaccination he had no weakness or discomfort, only a slight rise in temperature.
The results of the vaccine trials turned out to be different - some levels of antibodies , others had lower levels. After vaccination, the fear of COVID-19 decreased, noted photographer, author of the Intermoda.ru project Dmitry Babushkin. “There are not so many antibodies yet, but they are already “standing guard,” like a mask, gloves and an antiseptic. It’s already become a little calmer to leave the house,” he added. Babushkin said that he took the vaccine more than three weeks ago, but at first he thought it was a placebo: there were no side effects. However, the analysis showed the presence of antibodies.
“I didn’t have any sensations or side effects at all. After the second - three days the temperature was approximately 37.5 degrees. But if I hadn’t seen it, I wouldn’t have noticed it, it didn’t have any effect,” Sergei Bespalov, a leading employee of the Research Center for Public Policy and Public Administration, told RBC. He noted that after vaccinations he developed antibodies and now he follows the mask regime “for order, not for himself.”
Bespalov said that two and a half weeks after the first injection, he took an antibody test at a city clinic, but the result was negative. “Unfortunately, during vaccination in the clinic they do not explain at all what kind of tests need to be taken in order to understand whether it worked or not. In regular city clinics, where I took the test, the test shows antibodies to the nucleocapsid protein. To understand whether there is an effect after vaccination, you need to take an S-protein test. When I found out, I already took another test and got a good result - a high level of antibodies,” he noted.
Volunteers report side effects in COVID vaccine trial Society
Associate Professor of the Moscow Conservatory Philip Nodel did not feel any side effects after the injection. “At first I felt the injection site, but then I completely forgot about it. There were no side effects, I hope it's not a placebo. But I have always tolerated vaccinations quite easily. All three weeks after participating in the vaccine trial, I continue to do my usual things: I play concerts, teach at the Conservatory and “Merzlyakovka,” he added.
Sputnik V is the first COVID-19 vaccine registered in Russia. Vaccination occurs in two stages: first, the first component of the drug is administered, and after 21 days a second injection is given.
Earlier, the Director of the National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology named after N. F. Gamaleya, Alexander Gintsburg, said that mass vaccination against coronavirus in Moscow and the region will begin in the coming week, and mass vaccination in Russia will begin in January-February 2021 and could last about a year .