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What To Know About Ulcerative Colitis And Fever
People may experience fever as a symptom of UC or as a complication of the condition. A person should consult a gastroenterologist to determine the possible cause and a suitable treatment plan.
UC is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that usually causes gastrointestinal symptoms. However, people may also have symptoms that affect other body parts and experience more generalized symptoms, such as fever and chills.
This article explores the link between UC and fever. It also discusses how to treat fever and when to consult a doctor.
Fever is the body's typical response to infection and inflammation. Evidence notes that feeling feverish is one of the more common symptoms of UC.
Experts commonly associate fever with severe UC and the possible complications that may arise. However, some people with a mild case of the condition may still experience fever as a symptom.
UC symptomsUC is a lifelong condition that causes inflammation of the large intestine. It commonly begins in the rectum and spreads upward to the colon.
Many people with IBD may experience fever as one of the symptoms, which often start gradually.
A person will likely experience alternating periods of remission, during which they have few or no symptoms, and flare-ups, when the disease is active.
Some of the main symptoms include:
Severe colitisFever is often a sign of volume depletion and toxicity. Other possible signs and symptoms include:
Fulminant colitisFulminant colitis is a subtype of severe UC that produces signs of increased toxicity, including fever and unintentional weight loss. The condition can also cause:
Fever can also indicate the presence of complications. One common complication associated with fulminant colitis is toxic megacolon. This condition involves the large intestine losing muscle tone within days to hours, causing it to expand. This may cause a high fever and abdominal pain.
Other causesA person may also develop a fever as a side effect of taking medications that treat UC, such as vedolizumab.
Sometimes, UC can also be the underlying cause of fevers of unknown origin, as fever can present without other accompanying symptoms.
People should speak with a doctor to determine what may be causing their symptoms.
The treatment of UC depends on the extent and severity of the disease. The first-line treatment is anti-inflammatory medications, such as sulfasalazine and 5-aminosalicylates.
Gastroenterologists may also add immunosuppressants such as azathioprine and cyclosporine if a person does not respond to their initial treatment.
If a person's fever results from fulminant colitis or toxic megacolon, they will require hospitalization. In the hospital, they will receive IV fluids and electrolytes. Doctors administer these medications directly into the bloodstream.
The doctor may recommend bowel rest and also give high dose IV corticosteroids, anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF), or cyclosporine if they suspect a severe infection. This may be alongside antibiotics or infliximab, depending on a person's response to the drugs. They may also require ICU consultation and medication to help maintain their blood pressure.
Learn more about treating UC.
A doctor may also recommend bowel rest, which requires a person to refrain from eating food by mouth. This gives the digestive system time to heal. A person may have a nasogastric tube fitted to help decompress the stomach.
A person may need surgery in severe cases or if the symptoms do not improve within 24–48 hours. Doctors may recommend a subtotal colectomy with ileostomy and one of the below:
Read on to learn more about surgery for UC.
A person should consult a doctor immediately if they are experiencing:
Some FAQs about UC and fever may include:
Can you get a fever with ulcerative colitis?Yes, a person can experience a fever due to UC. UC is an inflammatory condition and fever is a common way the body may respond to inflammation. Fever is one of the main symptoms of UC and health experts commonly associate it with severe UC.
What does an ulcerative colitis flare-up feel like?A UC flare-up describes when symptoms return after not experiencing any for a period of time. Symptoms may vary from person to person, but typically involve belly pain and cramping, rectal pain and bleeding, urgent bowel movements, diarrhea, and fatigue.
When should you go to the ER for ulcerative colitis?It is advisable for a person to seek immediate medical attention if they are experience worsening symptoms. These may include high fever, severe stomach pain, severe diarrhea, and heavy rectal bleeding. A trip to the ER can help minimize the risk of severe dehydration or other potentially severe complications.
Read on to learn more about UC and hospitalization.
How bad can ulcerative colitis get?While a person is unlikely to die from the condition itself, life threatening complications can sometimes arise. This can include septic shock or toxic megacolon. Without treatment and managing the condition, UC can also lead to severe health problems, such as anemia, osteoporosis, joint pain, skin cancer, and colon cancer.
These can include inflammation in other parts of the body, osteoporosis, and poor growth and development. Untreated UC can also lead to other gastrointestinal problems, such as toxic megacolon and bowel cancer.
Read on to learn more about the complications of moderate to severe ulcerative colitis.
Fever is the body's response to inflammation. As UC is a type of IBD, this may be one of the symptoms a person experiences as part of the body's inflammatory response.
However, doctors more often associate it with severe or more extensive UC. It may also be a side effect of medications or other associated complications.
A person with UC who experiences high or persistent fever with or without other symptoms should contact a doctor for a prompt diagnosis and treatment.
Yellow Fever
Yellow fever is a viral infection transmitted by a bite from infected mosquitoes most commonly found in parts of South America and Africa. When transmitted to humans, the yellow fever virus can damage the liver and other internal organs and be potentially fatal.
The World Health Organization estimates there are 200,000 cases of yellow fever worldwide each year, resulting in 30,000 deaths. Yellow fever appears to be on the rise internationally, due to a decreased immunity to infection among local populations, deforestation, climate change, and high-density urbanization.
The CDC has identified 42 countries with a risk of yellow fever transmission, many of them with tropical climates. While the actual number of yellow fever cases among U.S. And European travelers to these at-risk countries is low, vaccination is advised for most international travelers to these countries, because yellow fever has no cure and can be deadly.
Yellow fever is typically spread to humans from bites by infected mosquitoes. People cannot spread yellow fever among themselves through casual contact, although the infection could possibly be transmitted directly into the blood through contaminated needles.
A few different species of mosquitoes transmit the yellow fever virus; some breed in urban areas, others in jungles. Mosquitoes that breed in the jungle also transmit yellow fever to monkeys, who, in addition to humans, are a host for the disease.
Yellow fever gets its name from two of its most obvious symptoms: fever and yellowing of the skin. The yellowing occurs because the disease causes liver damage and hepatitis. For some people, yellow fever has no initial symptoms, while for others, the first symptoms appear from three to six days after exposure to the virus from a mosquito bite.
An infection with yellow fever typically has three phases. The first phase of symptoms can last for three to four days and then, for most people, disappears. The first phase is generally non-specific and cannot be distinguished from other viral infections.
The initial symptoms of yellow fever are:
The next phase is remission, which lasts for 48 hours. Patients improve. The majority recover.
Unfortunately, a third, more toxic phase of infection occurs for 15% to 25% of patients. Ultimately, a condition called viral hemorrhagic fever can develop, with internal bleeding (hemorrhaging), high fever, and damage to the liver, kidneys, and circulatory system. The World Health Organization estimates that up to 50% of people worldwide who reach this severe phase of infection die, while half recover.
The third-phase symptoms of yellow fever can include:
Yellow fever is diagnosed by your symptoms, recent travel activity, and blood tests. Yellow fever symptoms can mimic symptoms of other tropical diseases such as malaria and typhoid, so call your doctor if you have symptoms of yellow fever and have recently traveled to a high-risk country.
Because there is no cure for the viral infection itself, medical treatment of yellow fever focuses on easing symptoms such as fever, muscle pain, and dehydration. Because of the risk of internal bleeding, avoid aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs if you suspect you have yellow fever. Hospitalization is often needed.
Because there is no cure for yellow fever, prevention is critical. The yellow fever vaccine is advised for adults and children over age 9 months who are traveling to or living in countries with a known risk of yellow fever. Certain countries in Africa and Latin America with the highest risk of exposure to yellow fever now require proof of yellow fever vaccination before allowing you to travel there.
Travel medicine clinics and state or local health departments usually offer the vaccine, which needs to be repeated every 10 years for people traveling to high-risk areas. These approved vaccination centers can also provide you with the International Certificate of Vaccination that you'll need to enter certain at-risk countries.
Call your doctor right away if you develop a fever, flu-like symptoms, or other unusual signs after taking the vaccine. The yellow fever vaccine, in a few rare cases, has caused an allergic reaction, nervous system reaction, and life-threatening illness.
Yellow fever vaccination is not advised for everyone. The vaccine can cause serious adverse effects in certain people. Efforts are underway to develop a vaccine that will be safer. Talk with your doctor before getting the vaccine if you:
Keep in mind that vaccination has two goals: to protect the health of individual travelers coming into high-risk regions and to protect the public health of countries by preventing the import of yellow fever into their region. If you're exempt from vaccination for medical reasons, you may need to provide proof of exemption for entry into some countries.
Vaccination is the most important measure you should take when traveling to areas where exposure to the yellow fever virus is possible. No other measure is more effective, but there are other valuable recommendations. You should:
Drugs For Treatment Of Fever
Fever or Pyrexia is an elevation in normal body temperature. Causes of fever include infections, injury, cancers, inflammation, hormonal, metabolic and genetic diseases.
Acetaminophen and PropoxypheneAcetaminophen or paracetamol helps to treat fever, reduce mild to moderate pain and propoxyphene is a narcotic (sleep-inducing) analgesic prescribed for treating moderate to severe pain.
MetamizoleMetamizole is a painkiller used for the treatment of fever, headache, toothache, postoperative pain and other painful conditions
Trade Names :Andep (0.25mg)More ...
PropyphenazonePropyphenazone is an analgesic and antipyretic with poor anti-inflammatory action.
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