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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Post Fever Muscle Aches, Weakness And Low BP. Is It Due To Work Exposure Or Viral Illness?

My 40 year old son had a fever one day....then muscle aches and weaknesss the next....then a near blackout spell with very low blood pressure episodes that same day. He was working with heavy raw copper at work before that and thought the muscle pain in arms legs and hands could have been caused by that exposure. Could there be a connection with the exposure at work or simply a viral illness that may go as fast as it came?? He is 70% better now after four days.
Tue, 19 Jun 2012
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  Anonymous's Response
's  Response
Hello,
A very interesting set of symptoms you have elaborated beautifully indeed.
Infections will be the first on the list with several viruses capable of causing fever, mylagia, hypotension. Adenoviruses will be one example. However, low blood pressure is a sign of sepsis that can be secondary to viruses or bacteria. As he is getting better (and I presume without any specific therapy) a viral infection is most likely.
Low cortisol levels require excluding if these symptoms (dos not have to be all of the above) recur.
I also presume there was no skin rash at the time which would be consistent with an infection.

Copper poisoning (acute) does indeed present with low blood pressure, but also with vomiting (usually blood), jaundice (yellowing of skin), dark stools (reflecting GI bleed) so without these symptoms it is unlikely your son had acute Cu poisoning.

I hope this was useful.

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Post Fever Muscle Aches, Weakness And Low BP. Is It Due To Work Exposure Or Viral Illness?

Hello, A very interesting set of symptoms you have elaborated beautifully indeed. Infections will be the first on the list with several viruses capable of causing fever, mylagia, hypotension. Adenoviruses will be one example. However, low blood pressure is a sign of sepsis that can be secondary to viruses or bacteria. As he is getting better (and I presume without any specific therapy) a viral infection is most likely. Low cortisol levels require excluding if these symptoms (dos not have to be all of the above) recur. I also presume there was no skin rash at the time which would be consistent with an infection. Copper poisoning (acute) does indeed present with low blood pressure, but also with vomiting (usually blood), jaundice (yellowing of skin), dark stools (reflecting GI bleed) so without these symptoms it is unlikely your son had acute Cu poisoning. I hope this was useful.