Feeling Feverish or in Pain? Here’s What to Do

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Feeling Feverish or in Pain? Here’s What to Do

Please note: This article gives basic advice only. We don’t recommend self-diagnosis. Please talk to one of our pharmacists online — we’ll help you find out what’s really going on and what medicine is safest for you.

Contents

  1. Understanding Fever
  2. Common Fever Types
    • Viral or “Cold/Flu” Fever
    • Malaria Fever
  3. Common Aches
    • Headaches
    • Body & Joint Pains
    • Period Cramps
  4. When to See a Doctor
  5. Medicine Safety Tips

1. Understanding Fever

When your body temperature rises above 38°C, it means you have a fever — your body’s way of fighting infection.
You may feel hot, weak, sweaty, or have chills.

First things to do:
  • Rest as much as possible
  • Drink lots of water or fluids
  • Wear light clothing and stay in a cool place

If you’re uncomfortable or in pain, take Paracetamol to help reduce the fever.
If your joints or body also hurt, you can use Ibuprofen, but only if you don’t have stomach ulcers, kidney problems, or are pregnant.

2. Common Fever Types

A. Viral or “Cold/Flu” Fever

How it feels:
  • You feel weak, hot, and maybe have a runny nose, sore throat, or cough.
  • You may also have a mild headache and body pain.
What to do:
  • Get plenty of rest and drink fluids.
  • Take Paracetamol or Ibuprofen for fever and pain.
  • For blocked or runny nose, you can use a cold and flu combination tablet that has a decongestant (for blocked nose) and an antihistamine (for runny nose).

B. Malaria Fever

How it feels:
  • You feel hot, weak, have chills, headaches, or sweating spells.
  • Sometimes you may have vomiting or body pain.
What to do:
  • Do a malaria test first if you can.
  • If positive, take a complete malaria treatment pack (ACT) as directed on the pack.
  • You can take Paracetamol along with your malaria medicine to help with fever and pain.
  • Rest and drink plenty of fluids.

If your fever doesn’t go down after two days of malaria treatment, or if you start vomiting or feeling worse, see a doctor immediately.

3. Common Aches

A. Headaches

How it feels:
  • Tension headache: feels like tightness or pressure around your head or neck.
  • Migraine: one-sided, throbbing headache that may come with nausea, light, or sound sensitivity.
What to do:
  • Drink water and have a small meal (low sugar levels can cause headaches).
  • Rest in a quiet, dark room.
  • Take Paracetamol for mild pain or Ibuprofen for stronger pain if you can tolerate it.

B. Body, Muscle & Joint Pain

How it feels:

Pain or stiffness in your back, legs, neck, or shoulders — often from stress, tiredness, or physical work.

What to do:
  • Rest the sore area and avoid heavy lifting.
  • Gently stretch or massage the area.
  • Apply warm compress after 1–2 days.
  • Use pain-relief gel or tablets for faster relief.

C. Period Cramps

How it feels:

Sharp or dull lower belly pain, sometimes going to the back or thighs, around your period.

What to do:
  • Use a hot water bottle or heating pad on your tummy.
  • Take an NSAID like Ibuprofen or Mefenamic acid to reduce pain.
  • If the pain is crampy and strong, an antispasmodic medicine can help relax the muscles.

4. When to See a Doctor

See a doctor or pharmacist immediately if:

  • The fever lasts more than 2 days or keeps coming back.
  • The fever is above 38°C and you feel very weak, confused, or dizzy.
  • You have severe headache, stiff neck, chest pain, shortness of breath, or vomiting.
  • You’re pregnant, have a baby under 3 months, or have kidney or ulcer problems.

5. Medicine Safety Tips

  • Don’t take more than one medicine that has Paracetamol in it at the same time (the daily maximum for adults is 4,000 mg).
  • Always take Ibuprofen or Diclofenac with food to avoid stomach pain.
  • Don’t use Ibuprofen or Naproxen if you have ulcers, asthma, or severe kidney disease.
  • Always read the label and follow the exact dose on the pack.

Final Advice

Most fevers and body pains go away with rest, fluids, and the right medication, but it’s important not to ignore your symptoms — especially if they last long or get worse.

If you’re unsure what to take, or if the person you’re caring for has other health conditions, chat with our pharmacists online. We’ll help you choose safe, affordable options from our store and guide you on how to take them properly.

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