Diagnosis of fever with aching limbs
The diagnosis of the cause of fever and aching limbs can often be made on the basis of the patient’s medical history, i.e. in a conversation with the patient. It is not always easy to distinguish between a flu and a cold. Frequently, a cold runs with lower temperatures than a flu or even completely without a fever.In addition, influenza often starts suddenly and violently while the symptoms of a cold are more likely to appear one after the other.
Otherwise, the symptoms, such as fatigue, running/blocked nose, headache, sore throat and cough are largely identical. Get more detailed information about the differences between a cold and flu. However, it is usually irrelevant for therapy to distinguish between a cold and flu, as both are usually treated symptomatically (the cause itself is not combated).
Although there are antiviral drugs against the flu virus, these are only of any use in the first 48 hours after the onset of symptoms. More important is the differentiation from bacterial or parasitic pathogens. A bacterial infection may have to be treated with an antibiotic, depending on its severity, and there are also special drugs for parasitic infections such as malaria.
Bacterial pathogens are much more persistent than viral ones. The classic cold symptoms such as coughing, rhinitis and hoarseness are more severe and in addition, sinus, tonsil and middle ear infections can occur. The mucus that forms in the nose and throat is often tougher in bacterial pathogens and has a yellowish-green color.
The duration of the disease is also often longer. Parasitic pathogens also have certain unique selling points. For example, in the case of malaria, the fever runs in typical waves or thrusts.
A diagnosis should never be made without a physical examination. The doctor looks down the throat, for example, to detect redness or deposits and listens to the patient’s lungs and heart (auscultation). If the symptoms persist for more than three weeks, a blood sample should be taken for clarification and further diagnostic tests should be performed, for example to rule out rheumatological disease.