VERIFIED CONTENTAuthor: Katarzyna Wieczorek-Szukała, MD, PhD, medical biotechnologist, Medical University of Lodz

Fever is one of the more common symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 infection. It often appears at the very beginning of the disease, when the body takes up the fight against the threat. Increased body temperature is a natural defense mechanism that aims to eliminate the pathogen. Read whether high temperature must always accompany coronavirus infection and how to deal with it.

Known variants of COVID-19

Several variants of the coronavirus have been detected so far. The most important of them are:

  • alfa,
  • beta,
  • gamma,
  • kappa,
  • delta,
  • lambda,
  • omicron,
  • IHU.

Particular variants differ from each other mainly in the degree of virulence and the pace of spreading within the human population. It also turns out that even a set of vaccinations does not protect the patient from falling ill again, although it may alleviate the effects and protect him from a severe course of the disease.

It must be remembered that not all variants of the coronavirus have reached Poland yet, and the pathogen itself is constantly evolving and it is difficult to predict how the symptoms of the disease will change.

Common symptoms of coronavirus infection

Different strains of the virus can cause different symptoms that doctors categorize as common, moderately common, and rare. The most statistically occurring symptoms are:

  • chronic fatigue,
  • cough,
  • loss of taste or smell,
  • fever.

Slightly less common is gastrointestinal response in the form of diarrhea, as well as skin allergies and rashes. A significant proportion of patients also report recurring headaches, sore throats or muscle aches.

People who experience mild to moderately severe symptoms are likely to recover without hospitalization, using only reliever medication and relaxing at home.

Severe coronavirus cases are the most rare, including:

  • difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
  • chest pain and pressure,
  • persistent confusion.

The risk of a severe course of infection concerns mainlyall elderly people and those who struggle with numerous comorbidities (e.g. diabetes, coronary heart disease, cancer, hepatitis). In this case, the help of a doctor may be indispensable, and even immediate resuscitation.

Fever in the course of SARS-CoV-2

Individual symptoms may appear with different frequency, depending on the mutation of the virus and the individual characteristics of the patient. One of the most common symptoms of an infection isfever . The data published in Poland show that this symptom can occur in even:

  • 30% of sick children,
  • 50-70% of sick adults.

In turn, the statistics published by PLOS One in 2022 indicated that in adults, increased temperature appeared in 78% of cases. Other studies published by Chinese scientists indicate up to a nearly 90% risk of fever.

Increased body temperature may appear not only in the event of infection, but also as a result of the body's reaction to vaccination. Unfortunately, there is no clear answer to the question of what factors affect the duration and intensity of a fever.

When can we talk about a fever? It depends on the thermometer readings:

  • low-grade fever occurs at body temperature between 36.6 ° C and 38 ° C,
  • up to 38.5 ° C low fever occurs,
  • up to 39.5 ° C moderate fever,
  • up to 40.5 ° C severe fever,
  • above 40.5 ° C you can talk about high fever.

Measurement of body temperature can be made with an alcohol thermometer, electronic or non-contact thermometer. The latter have become especially popular in the pandemic era due to the lack of need to contact a potentially infected person. Unfortunately, they are not as accurate as other medical equipment.

Are there specific antipyretic drugs for COVID-19?

The current state of medical knowledge does not allow for unambiguous identification of specific antipyretic agents to fightCOVID-19 . That is why doctors recommend the use of drugs from the group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (so-called NSAIDs), proven over the years. Which of them are especially popular?

  • Paracetamol,
  • Ibuprofen,
  • Naproxen,
  • Acetylsalicylic acid.

Paracetamol

Paracetamol, also known as acetaminophen, has strong analgesic and antipyretic properties. It was introduced for general use in the 1960s. Unlike other NSAIDs, it has practically no effectanti-inflammatory. Due to the fact that paracetamol does not react with cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes, it does not have a negative effect on the blood coagulation process.

This compound may exist in the form of mono-preparations, but it is also often a component of complex drugs used to treat flu and colds. It is often accompanied by sympathomimetics or antihistamines.

Avoid drinking alcohol while taking paracetamol-based medications. If the patient may suffer from kidney or liver damage, consult a doctor before applying paracetamol.

The maximum dosage recommendations are as follows:

  • in adults no more than 4 grams a day,
  • in children from 6 to 12 years of age, no more than 2 grams a day,
  • in children under 2 years of age, the use of paracetamol should be consulted with a doctor.

You should never exceed 0.6 grams of the active ingredient for every kilogram of body weight, and take more than 4 doses of paracetamol in one day.

When administered orally, the effect of acetaminophen reaches its maximum effectiveness between 30 and 120 minutes. The antipyretic effect lasts 6 to 8 hours.

Ibuprofen

Ibuprofen is a derivative of propionic acid. It also has an analgesic, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory effect. Unlike paracetamol, it inhibits the secretion of cyclooxygenase (COX-1 and COX-2). As a result, it reduces blood clotting, although it is shorter and weaker than, for example, the popular aspirin.

The maximum concentration of ibuprofen in the blood occurs within 1 to 2 hours from the oral administration of the preparation. Its effect lasts from 4 to 6 hours.

It is believed that adults and children over 12 years of age should not consume more than 1.2 grams of the substance per day (in extreme situations 2.4 grams). A safe dose for patients under 12 years of age is approximately 0.35 grams of the substance per kilogram of body weight. It is not recommended to use preparations containing ibuprofen under the age of 3.

In practice, ibuprofen is often used interchangeably with paracetamol so as not to interfere too much with the cyclooxygenase pathway.

Naproxen

Naproxen is another NSAID that can be used to lower fever in the treatment of coronavirus infection. It also has an analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect.

Like ibuprofen, it is a derivative of propionic acid that affects both cyclooxygenases and, consequently, the blood clotting process.

Maximum concentrationnaproxen in the blood occurs one hour after oral administration. In case of fever, it is recommended to use an initial dose of 0.5 grams, and then 0.25 grams every 6-8 hours. The maximum daily dose is 1.25 grams.

The use of drugs containing naproxen is not recommended in children under 16 years of age for the treatment of ailments other than rheumatoid pain.

Acetylsalicylic acid

Acetylsalicylic acid is the main component of both aspirin and polopyrin. It has a strong antipyretic, analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect. It inhibits the secretion of cyclooxygenase (strongly compared to other NSAIDs), which translates into a reduction in blood clotting.

The available research results suggest that early administration of a preparation containing acetylsalicylic acid to people suffering from COVID-19 may significantly reduce the risk of hospitalization.

As an antipyretic preparation, it is recommended to use a daily dose of 2.5, divided into 0.5-1 gram portions, every 6-8 hours. In case of persistent fever, the dose may be increased to a maximum of 4 grams.

In children from 12 years of age, a single dose should not exceed 0.5 grams, and a daily dose - 1.5 grams. It is not recommended to administer acetylsalicylic acid to younger patients due to the risk of Rey's syndrome or aspirin-induced asthma.

Will amantadine help fight the fever caused by the coronavirus?

Every now and then there are reports in the media about new, "revolutionary discoveries" that would be a cure for the coronavirus. One of them is amantadine, most often in the form of a hydrochloride or sulphate. It is used, inter alia, in in the treatment of Parkinson's disease, as well as in the case of infection with group A viruses (e.g. popular flu).

The mechanism of its action is to maintain in the body an increased concentration of one of the main neurotransmitters - dopamine. The substance also inhibits the early stage of virus replication by blocking their proton pump. As a result, removal of the viral envelope is stopped and hemagglutinin synthesis is blocked.

It is difficult to answer the question about the effectiveness of amantadine in combating fever caused by the coronavirus. Stopping or slowing down the multiplication of the pathogen can reduce inflammation and thus make the body less responsive. Still, the effectiveness of this substance in the fight against the coronavirus has not been clearly confirmed.

Be careful when combining drugs containing amantadine with sympathomimetics, as they may increase its central effects (including undesirable effects).

WIn the treatment of influenza, adults and children over 10 years of age should take 0.1 grams of the substance a day for 4-5 days, with higher effectiveness being noted with the earliest possible application of the drug. There are no clear recommendations regarding the dosage of the substance in younger patients.

How long does a COVID-19 fever last?

The duration of a fever with a coronavirus infection is a very individual matter. Some patients will not notice such a symptom at all. Others, on the other hand, may have a high temperature for a day or two, or a slightly elevated temperature for a week.

Due to the lack of uniformity in the course of the disease, it is difficult to obtain an unambiguous protocol. If you feel you have symptoms that could suggest a coronavirus infection, such as fever, muscle pain, or weakness, start using common painkillers and anti-inflammatories as soon as possible before the infection develops. It is very likely that a few days of treatment will help heal symptoms and restore your full strength.

Remember that you can fight the symptoms of coronavirus infection on your own. In the initial stage of infection, at the very first symptoms, it is worth implementing basic medications as soon as possible, which can alleviate the symptoms associated with the infection. However, never use antipyretic drugs as a preventive measure, as they are not indifferent to your he alth.

Category:

COVID 19