Have persistent low-grade fever? Here are 8 common causes!

A flurry of seasonal diseases may try to damper the festive spirit as monsoons say goodbye and winters usher in by producing cough, cold, fever, body aches, among a host of other symptoms. During this season, many people also report having low-grade fevers with flu-like symptoms or no other symptoms. Any fever that ranges from 99 to 101 and persists for more than 24 hours is considered to be low-grade. For a couple of days, having a low-grade fever is normal; however, if it persists, it might be concerning and needs to be looked into by a doctor. Fever lasting more than 10 to 14 days is referred to as a chronic low-grade fever. On the other hand, a high grade fever exceeds 103 and needs to be treated right away if it persists for a long time.

The usual body temperature for healthy individuals is 98.3 degrees. Now, a low-grade fever might indicate a wide range of conditions. The majority of them are minor fevers that are brought on by common colds or flus and coughs and go away on their own. However, there are other potential causes that must be ruled out if the fever lasts for a prolonged period of time.

There are eight typical reasons for your ongoing low-grade fever:

1. Viruses like common cold

The most frequent cause of low-grade fevers is a viral infection, such as the common cold, which results in low-grade fever and body aches and malaise. It often subsides with paracetamol and lasts for a few days. Sneezing, coughing, exhaustion, lack of appetite, runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, and a painful throat are other signs of a viral cold or flu.

2. Viral pneumonia

Viral pneumonia is another possibility; this condition can result in fever, chills, and a persistent cough that lasts longer than two to three weeks. Rest and paracetamol hydration are the mainstays of treatment for viral infections. You should see a doctor if it doesn’t go away after some time.

3. UTI

In both children and adults, a urinary tract infection is one of the other possible reasons of low-grade fever. It typically results from a bacterial infection that affects women more frequently. As a result, in addition to a low-grade temperature, you can also experience pain and burning when urinating frequently, and your urine might occasionally contain blood. To diagnose a UTI, you must see a doctor who may analyze a urine sample. Antibiotics are used to treat this, but they must be taken under medical care, so speak with your doctor about this.

4. Teething problems

Because teething problems can induce low grade fever in newborns as well as high grade fever, you should consult a doctor to diagnose the reason and determine the best course of treatment.

5. Tuberculosis

In our nation, TB, where a fever lasts longer than three weeks, is the second most typical cause of low-grade fever. Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the disease’s primary cause, and it is extremely contagious. Here, the symptoms would include a low-grade fever that persisted for longer than three weeks, as well as weight loss, appetite loss, coughing with possible blood in it, and occasionally night sweats. So, additional research should be conducted in this regard. To diagnose TB, consult your doctor, who will perform your X-ray and Sputum tests.

6. Autoimmune disease

There are numerous other autoimmune diseases that can also produce low-grade fevers, but these conditions need to be recognized and treated as necessary. For example, arthritis can cause joint problems, and there are many other autoimmune diseases that can cause this.

7. Thyroid inflammation

Thyroiditis, or thyroid inflammation, can occasionally also result in low-grade fever, weariness, muscle soreness, and neck ache. And medical professionals can identify this by examination, thyroid blood testing, or a thyroid sonogram.

8. Cancer

Certain malignancies, such as leukemias and lymphomas, can also produce inexplicable low-grade fevers in elderly people. But this can be unusual, and fever might be an ambiguous symptom. Normal persistent fevers are not indicative of malignancy, but they may raise a red flag if you also experience other symptoms like unexplained weight loss, chronic exhaustion, or neck lymph nodes. Depending on the type of cancer and the damaged body area, one may have breathlessness or lose their appetite. Depending on that, the symptoms could vary, and an evaluation can help determine the best course of action.

Depending on the reason, low-grade fever will need to be treated. While paracetamol can reduce fevers caused by viral illnesses, other causes need treating the underlying problem, so you should see your doctor.

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