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What Causes Chills And Tightening Of Back And Neck?
Question: My husband has chills tighenting of the back neck and a headache. what can it be?? he soes not want to go to the emergency room. help me please
Brief Answer:
Could be adult meningitis and so he will need immediate help
Detailed Answer:
Hello ma'am and welcome.
Thank you for writing to us.
I have gone through your query with diligence and would like you to know that I am here to help. The symptoms mentioned (i.e. headache, stiffness of neck and nape region, and chills) are indicative of a very serious condition called meningitis and will most certainly require medical intervention and so I strongly urge you to convince your husband to go to a medical centre or a doctor.
But I would also like to add that the main reason I am concerned is because of the neck stiffness along with the other symptoms, so without the neck stiffness the cause could be something less serious.
Please do not hesitate to write back to me for any further clarifications, I would be more than happy to help.
Best wishes.
Could be adult meningitis and so he will need immediate help
Detailed Answer:
Hello ma'am and welcome.
Thank you for writing to us.
I have gone through your query with diligence and would like you to know that I am here to help. The symptoms mentioned (i.e. headache, stiffness of neck and nape region, and chills) are indicative of a very serious condition called meningitis and will most certainly require medical intervention and so I strongly urge you to convince your husband to go to a medical centre or a doctor.
But I would also like to add that the main reason I am concerned is because of the neck stiffness along with the other symptoms, so without the neck stiffness the cause could be something less serious.
Please do not hesitate to write back to me for any further clarifications, I would be more than happy to help.
Best wishes.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you for your quick response. he has a herinated disc in his shoulder.neck which I think is causing the "neck pain"? what do you think?
The fever is 101.5...it has gone done some. The neck is from his sholuder.
thank you very much
The fever is 101.5...it has gone done some. The neck is from his sholuder.
thank you very much
Brief Answer:
My sincere apologies for the delay, a few suggestions listed
Detailed Answer:
Hello once again ma'am.
My sincere apologies for the delay as I was held up at the hospital.
A fever does also come along with meningitis, but as he does have a history of a herniated disc the cause for the pain could be the hernia as well. But with the presence of a fever and chills, it could be some other infection that has resulted in weakening and aggravation of his herniated disc symptoms.
In such a scenario I would recommend the following:
+Keep him very well hydrated
+Well fed
+Initiate non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (e.g. ibuprofen, nimesulide, diclofenac, etc.), that should help reduce inflammation and also help to control his fever to a certain extent
+Make sure you monitor his urine output and urine color, consistency, odour, frequency, etc. Any abnormalities could indicate a urine infection
+If he has body and joint pain then we may have to suspect viral infections and report to a hospital
+Observe any changes in mental status (e.g. confusion, disorientation, etc.) and write back to me immediately if present, or take him to the hospital immediately; as these could indicate meningitis, which I have yet to rule out
For now please go about these instructions and write back to me with any observations or the result of these steps, and I would be more than happy to help.
Best wishes.
My sincere apologies for the delay, a few suggestions listed
Detailed Answer:
Hello once again ma'am.
My sincere apologies for the delay as I was held up at the hospital.
A fever does also come along with meningitis, but as he does have a history of a herniated disc the cause for the pain could be the hernia as well. But with the presence of a fever and chills, it could be some other infection that has resulted in weakening and aggravation of his herniated disc symptoms.
In such a scenario I would recommend the following:
+Keep him very well hydrated
+Well fed
+Initiate non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (e.g. ibuprofen, nimesulide, diclofenac, etc.), that should help reduce inflammation and also help to control his fever to a certain extent
+Make sure you monitor his urine output and urine color, consistency, odour, frequency, etc. Any abnormalities could indicate a urine infection
+If he has body and joint pain then we may have to suspect viral infections and report to a hospital
+Observe any changes in mental status (e.g. confusion, disorientation, etc.) and write back to me immediately if present, or take him to the hospital immediately; as these could indicate meningitis, which I have yet to rule out
For now please go about these instructions and write back to me with any observations or the result of these steps, and I would be more than happy to help.
Best wishes.
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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