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Migraines are headaches which often manifest with other symptoms, including light, sound and smell sensitivity; nausea and vomiting; arm and leg numbness or weakness; difficulty speaking; and fever. Though rarely experienced during an attack.
Over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen may provide temporary relief. Monitoring triggers, including foods, stressors and sleep habits, is also helpful.
Can a Migraine Cause a Fever?
Medical experts clarify that migraines do not trigger fevers. Nevertheless, in exceptional cases, migraines may coincide with a fever, indicating an underlying health condition like meningitis, encephalitis, brain abscess, or sinus infection.
severe headaches and fevers arise together, it likely stems from another health concern, such as an infection. In such instances, consulting a medical professional or seeking immediate medical attention is crucial.
Fever can be triggered as a symptom of a migraine
Migraine is a neurological condition that impacts the brain, leading to symptoms including headache, dizziness, nausea and vomiting. Although fever-associated migraines are rare but occasionally do occur.
Migraines usually stem from issues with the trigeminal nerve which transmits sensations from facial and head areas to the brain; when activated it causes inflammation of blood vessels in the head leading to pain; sometimes this inflammation also induces fever-like conditions.
Fever is the immune system’s natural response to infection or harmful stimuli, raising body temperature so bacteria and viruses find less hospitable surroundings for reproduction. Fever may indicate infection; its trigger can range from influenza or colds to other health issues like chronic fatigue syndrome.
Fever can also be brought on by stress, anxiety and certain medications like sedatives and antidepressants, birth control pills and vasodilators like nitroglycerin. Migraine headaches may also be brought on by bright lights, loud noises or strong scents such as perfume or cleaning products; its symptoms may then worsen from fatigue, sleep disturbances, changes in weather and fatigue.
If you experience both migraines and fever simultaneously, it is crucial that you consult your physician immediately. Fever could be an indicator of more serious health conditions like meningitis or encephalitis – and only your physician can properly identify its source and provide appropriate medication.
Doctors may recommend over-the-counter and prescription pain relievers to ease your headache’s discomfort, and drinking plenty of water and resting can also help ease its severity and fever-inducing feverish symptoms.
Fever over 102 degrees Fahrenheit should be treated with acetaminophen, ibuprofen or aspirin in combination; these medications will effectively alleviate both headache and fever symptoms. If this combination fails to alleviate either of these issues or the fever persists beyond 24 hours’ worth of treatments then please visit your healthcare provider immediately.
Fever can be triggered as a symptom of another underlying condition
Migraine is a neurological condition affecting millions of people globally, often manifesting itself with severe headaches accompanied by nausea and vomiting, light sensitivity, dizziness, visual disturbances, as well as numbness or tingling in hands or feet.
Migraines typically last several hours per attack and can be brought on by factors like skipping meals, stress, weather changes, certain foods (like chocolate or alcohol) as well as menstruation cycles for women.
Migraines differ from other common forms of headaches in that they do not typically produce fever-induced attacks; however, fever can still arise as part of an infection or other health issue; in such instances over-the-counter pain relievers such as aspirin, ibuprofen or acetaminophen can easily help manage headaches and fever.
Some conditions, like encephalitis and meningitis, can produce both headaches and fever simultaneously. Encephalitis refers to brain inflammation caused by viral, bacterial, fungal or parasitic infections while meningitis refers to infection of membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord.
Other health issues which may also cause headaches and fever include flu, colds, shingles infections and heatstroke; other instances include Rheumatoid Arthritis as well as Lupus which also produce similar effects.
If you experience a migraine headache with fever, consult your physician as soon as possible to rule out any serious underlying conditions. A mild illness such as flu or an infection might be diagnosed – these can typically be treated using over-the-counter medicines and rest.
If fever persists, your doctor may prescribe preventative medicines to alleviate your migraine symptoms if over-the-counter treatments and lifestyle adjustments don’t provide relief.
Preventive treatments include seizure medications, beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers to control blood pressure, antidepressants or injections of CGRP antagonists such as atogepant (Qulipta), eptinezumab (Vyepti), erenumab (Aimovig) or fremanezumab (Emgality). These injections send magnetic pulses directly to the brain in order to relieve pain.
What Are the Symptoms of Meningitis and Encephalitis
Meningitis and encephalitis are serious conditions that demand immediate medical attention. Meningitis manifests through symptoms such as sudden high fever, severe headache, nausea or vomiting, stiffness in the neck, confusion or difficulty concentrating, seizures, sleepiness or trouble waking up, sensitivity to light, loss of appetite or thirst.
In some cases, a skin rash may also appear. Infants with meningitis might display symptoms like fever, lethargy, failure to wake up for feedings, vomiting, body stiffness, unusual irritability without explanation and a full or bulging fontanel.
On the other hand, encephalitis is accompanied by symptoms such as abrupt fever onset along with headache and vomiting; heightened sensitivity to light; stiffness in the neck and back; confusion and impaired judgment; drowsiness; weak muscles; an unsteady gait that seems clumsy; and irritability.
Symptoms that indicate emergency treatment necessity include loss of consciousness, seizures, muscle weakness or sudden severe dementia. If anyone experiences symptoms suggestive of meningitis or encephalitis they should seek immediate medical attention.
How Can You Differentiate Between a Migraine and a Headache Caused by an Infection
Distinguishing between migraines and infection-caused headaches can be challenging due to shared symptoms. However, certain factors can help differentiate them:
- Fever: Migraines typically lack fever, while infection headaches may have one.
- Other infection symptoms: Infection headaches (sinusitis, meningitis) may come with stiff neck, nausea, vomiting, light sensitivity, and changes in mucus color.
- Duration and severity: Migraines last longer, are more severe. Infection headaches resolve after treating the underlying infection.
- Associated symptoms: Migraines bring nausea, vomiting, light and sound sensitivity, visual disturbances (such as auras). Infection headaches may have additional symptoms like a runny or stuffy nose (sinus infection).
- Underlying health condition: Known infection or related symptoms suggest an infection-caused headache.
Note: Consult a healthcare professional for accurate diagnosis and treatment.
What Are the Common Triggers for Migraines
Migraines have diverse triggers. Identifying personal triggers aids symptom management. Common triggers include:
- Stress: Emotional stress is a frequent migraine trigger due to brain chemical release.
- Hormonal changes: Estrogen fluctuations, like during menstruation or menopause, trigger headaches in many women. Hormonal medications can worsen migraines too.
- Foods and drinks: Aged cheese, alcohol, chocolate, and additives like nitrates and MSG may trigger up to 30% of migraines.
- Sleep: Both insufficient and excessive sleep can be migraine triggers.
- Sensory stimulation: Bright lights, strong smells, and loud noises may trigger migraines.
- Weather changes: Weather shifts, like barometric pressure changes, can trigger migraines.
- Skipped meals: Delaying meals might trigger migraines as well.
- Changes in routine: Disruptions to usual routines, like hunger, thirst, stress, or sleep changes, can trigger migraines.
- Medications: Some medications, such as oral contraceptives and blood pressure drugs, can trigger migraines.
- Caffeine: Excessive caffeine consumption, like coffee, may trigger migraines.
Note that migraine experiences and triggers differ among individuals. Keeping a migraine diary helps identify personal triggers and manage symptoms.
