Weird virus? Aches, low-grade fever, cough: thats it.

[Elibean]

I don't have a cold or runny nose, temps are under 38 so not flu, but I hurt all over as though run over by a truck, from mid-morning onwards (unless I take loads of paracetamol and nurofen).

The dds haven't got it, nor has dh, just me.

Anyone else had something similar?

Am asking because did have phlegmy cough for a week, minus the temps/aching, and am half wondering whether I should go to GP and get chest listened to...though wouldn't temps be higher with chest infection?

ps aches/temps since Sunday morning, cough for about a week now..

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Temp went shooting up to 38 tonight though, so maybe it is a fluey virus thingy, just slow to start.

Still no cold though

Ive just had a lingering virus with no temp but sore throat, dizziness, ear aches and aches. Think there are a lot of these horrible viruses around. Can you get some rest>

Thanks, Sunflower - no, rest is tricky, got a toddler

Had fever all night long, but saw GP who said chest clear though ears red, prob virus but will give ABs in a couple of days if still coughing/feverish.

you're right, lots of horrid viruses around atm...hope you're better v soon!

It sound's like the vargo (SP?) virus that is doing the rounds Eli. Aching joints or just achey can be a symptom as can flu/vomitting/temp. Children at DC's school have been off with it for 2 weeks. Sorry!

Hello Castles

Vargo? It has a NAME?! Urgh. No vomiting, at least, maybe dd2 had that bit while I do the temp/cough part...

Hope you haven't got it, if its doing the rounds of the school!

By "vargo" do you mean "parvo"..?

I started off like that and put it down to flu...that's 3 weeks ago tomorrow...it turned into a head cold with phlegmy chest and now all of that with a cough. I've had it three weeks and am just considering seeing the doctor, who'll probably say 'it's a virus and I can't give you anything, it'll go in about 6 weeks' .

Isn't that a canine disease Musukebba?

Quite possibly Musuebba Am very tired at the moment so that is my excuse!

Eli, you don't have to have all the symptoms I mentioned (according to GP friend), they are just some of the ways it can manifest itself. Anyway, it's pretty nasty, so look after yourself.

Hiya No problem castlesintheair; I was intrigued by the name...

Anyway parvovirus B19 is the virus causing 'slapped cheek disease' in children, which can start with a mild 'flu-like illness a few days before the rash starts. However in adults - particularly women - they may not get the classic rash and instead a bad attack of joint pain. Usually it's the small joints like fingers, toes, and wrists though, and fever/chest symptoms at the same time would be unusual.

@solowitch: yes cats and dogs have their own parvoviruses and diseases, but thankfully there's no link between those and the human ones.

@Elibean: when you say you hurt all over, is that your muscles or the small joints? Can you feel any lymph nodes in your neck or under the jaw?

As a general point about chest infections, there is still influenza B around that the moment, which can predispose to a secondary bacterial chest infection. These can drag on for ages, but might respond to antibiotic treatment.

Musukebba, that is very interesting and pretty much what my friend said (although I obviously couldn't remember it properly!). Are you a doctor by any chance?

Oooh, thank you, lots of information.

Parvo makes sense (I did google Vargo, and found some very interesting but unrelated links )!

Funnily enough, dd has had pink cheeks and weird welts (look like urticaria, but only last about 20 mins) have come up the last two mornings. Before that, at the weekend, she was very very tired and threw up a couple of times (possibly from coughing, but was off her food). I wondered about slapped cheek, but she had no temp.

Yes, its my small joints that hurt the worst (hands, fingers, ankles, feet) but only when my temp goes up, mostly in the evenings. Not so bad today, no aching at all with paracetamol - and cough drier, thank goodness.

Its probably a case of We'll Never Know, but it certainly makes a very boring virus more fun to try and figure it out with you lot, thank you

Hi Elibean: actually parvo sounds like a good bet, unless you have a history of rheumatoid arthritis. The only other infection which causes similar symptoms is rubella, but I guess you'll know about your previous immunity to that from booking blood results.

BTW the joint pain is your immune system clearing the infection, but the virus/antibody complexes settle out in the joints and cause this arthralgia. It should ease over the next week or so, and symptomatic relief with paracetamol is a good way to get you through it

@castlesintheair: i'm a clinical virologist with specialist interest in infections in pregnancy and neonatology; however I'm honestly not here to peddle any party line or deliberately generate controversy. I've found in practice that an explanation of what's probably going on is often the key to reassurance.

Anyway nobody listens to me at parties and they don't invite me any more; so I thought I'd try mumsnet

Have you had chicken pox? Sounds like the incubation period, which is 10-14 days, possibly?

Have had CP, years ago, and dd1 had it last year, so I don't think its that, but good though!

Musu, v interesting, you can come to my parties any time. My uncle is a (retired) virologist, so I have a family leaning towards interesting viral stories...

Spent the night with temps of 38 again, after a reasonably ok day (with paracetamol), surely wouldn't have that with parvo, would I?? Feel rubbish today.

BUT dd2 now has had red cheeks with raised bumpy/welty bits - almost like urticaria, but not itchy - for three mornings in a row. Which does look sort of parvo-like, and is following a mild illness of some sort.

Am dragging her to GP this afternoon in case its an allergy, but am pretty sure its viral.

Maybe I have parvo AND a cough/fever bug?!

Elibean: glad to hear virology runs in the family

IIRC the fever can be associated with the arthralgia as it's part of the immune response. However I think only a good old blood test (for you) and maybe a saliva test (for your DD2) is going to clinch it.

/me wonders what the GP says..?

Well, thanks for wondering, the GP (one I trust, experienced) says dd almost certainly not Fifths - no temp, cheeks not red enough, probably either a weird virus and/or urticaria. She had welts on her cheeks again yesterday morning, which went down after an hour or so - they come up when outdoors, each time, maybe cold is the trigger. She seems well in herself now.

As for me, I still have temps hovering around 37.7-38, feel dreadful, ache all over, have slight cough, a clear chest, and am a mystery Its been going on a long time, so he stuck me on Amoxy just in case, and crossed his fingers - probably another weird virus, but have to admit I'm getting slightly worried: I've never had a temp thats gone on this long in adulthood!