While it mimics the symptoms of a severe flu, it is not usually dangerous and often resolves on its own. If symptoms persist beyond 24 hours or worsen, it’s important to seek medical attention to rule out more serious conditions like sepsis, endocarditis, or an abscess, which require urgent treatment. Despite its name, cotton fever isn’t caused by cotton itself but is linked to the use of cotton filters when preparing injectable drugs.
We maintain strict accuracy standards, sourcing information exclusively from credible sources for our website content. IV drug addiction is a complex condition that requires comprehensive treatment and ongoing support. Antibiotics are only used if lab tests (such as blood cultures) indicate a serious bacterial infection.
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This can lead to fever, abdominal pain, and other symptoms, such as a general feeling of illness. Another possible cause is an endotoxin response from the Enterobacter agglomerans bacteria that live in cotton.2 It’s a mild toxin that can be picked up in the drug, causing a reaction. Cotton fever is a condition that can be difficult to recognize, as its symptoms may resemble those of other illnesses. However, being aware of the distinguishing factors and understanding how it is diagnosed can help in identifying cotton fever accurately.
If you or a loved one is struggling with substance use, contact Agape Detox today to learn more about our compassionate and effective treatment programs. This article was created to provide you with informative and engaging content. In the most severe cases of cat scratch disease, there may be alteration in the liver and spleen, as well as neurological changes such as encephalopathy, myelitis, radiculitis or neuroretinitis. COVID-19 vaccination is safe, effective, and one of the best ways to prevent severe illness and complications from COVID-19. The specific symptoms of COVID-19, their severity and duration can vary from person to person. The Pandemic Mitigation Collective’s COVID forecasting model, which uses data from various sources, estimates that there are an average of 512,000 new daily infections in the U.S. as of Aug 11.
Under most circumstances, cotton fever is quite benign, but it is possible for it to turn into something much more serious, like pneumonia. Normally, however, the symptoms of cotton fever disappear within a few hours. Reach out to us today to learn more about our substance abuse treatment programs in Florida or to get started with a confidential, risk-free assessment. If symptoms last longer than 12 hours, you must test for other conditions that can cause fever, including infections and illnesses. More research may produce more concrete theories about the origins of cotton fever.
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By educating others and ensuring access to valuable resources, we can contribute to the overall well-being and safety of individuals at risk of this condition. It is crucial to follow the healthcare provider’s advice and complete the prescribed course of treatment. This helps in managing the symptoms effectively and promotes a speedy recovery. Antibiotics are usually unnecessary to address the fever, and an infection might not even be present. Keep in mind that the symptoms are a manifestation of the immune response, regardless of whether bacteria are present in the bloodstream. Typically, cotton fever is diagnosed using a combination of a history and physical exam.
- This thorough assessment will help medical and mental health professionals determine what course of treatment would meet each person’s unique needs during recovery.
- Practicing good hand-washing technique before meals and throughout the day is a great step you can take to prevent infection.
- Cotton fever is an illness that occurs primarily in individuals who use intravenous drugs, particularly heroin or other opioids.
- The evaluation of a febrile injection drug user continues to present diagnostic challenges for healthcare providers.
- Ticks have to stay attached to the skin for at least 24 hours to pass on the bacteria.
This results in frequent misdiagnosis and unnecessary medical tests and treatment. Cotton fever is a temporary health condition that is seen among people who use cotton as a filter before injecting their intravenous drugs. A fever and high white blood cell count (leukocytosis) are the most common symptoms, similar to a sepsis infection. Symptoms usually resolve without interventions but can also be treated with fluids, antibiotics, and fever-reducer medication.
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COVID can spike throughout the year, but tends to cause two distinct waves annually in the U.S., one in the winter and another in the summer. These surges are driven by new variants and decreasing immunity from prior infection and vaccination, as well as peaks in travel, experts note. In early May, XFG accounted for less 3% of infections in the U.S., according to the CDC’s Nowcast estimates.
- Normally, however, the symptoms of cotton fever disappear within a few hours.
- COVID-19 vaccination is safe, effective, and one of the best ways to prevent severe illness and complications from COVID-19.
- Supervised consumption programs allow PWIDs to inject their drugs in a safe location with medical personnel in the building to provide medical treatment in case of emergency.
- This timing makes them troublesome for travellers engaged in daytime activities.
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Additionally, the use of contaminated needles increases the chances of contracting bloodborne diseases, such as HIV or hepatitis, which can have severe and potentially fatal implications. The negative health effects of IV substance use are substantial and should not be underestimated. Nonetheless, it is important to remember that it is never too late to seek help and start on the path to recovery. Administering a substance through this method leads to the fastest effects, but it has the potential to introduce toxins directly into the bloodstream that other routes of administration don’t carry. Drugs like heroin and cocaine, which are often injected, can have an unknown purity level, potentially exposing individuals to foreign compounds that could be hazardous to their health or life. Along with the risks of the drug itself, injecting a drug can cause injection site reactions, bloodborne illnesses like HIV or hepatitis, and an increased risk of overdose.
It is a common misconception that the cotton fibers used to filter intravenous drugs enter the blood stream and cause the illness. It is well established it is the presence of bacteria entering the blood stream is what causes the flu-like symptoms. Since many intravenous drug users use household cotton like cotton balls or Q-tips to filter their drugs, the bacteria found in these non-sterile cottons increase the risk of bacteria entering the blood stream.
Common Symptoms of Cotton Fever
Although cotton fever is self-limited and normally lasts 6 to 12 hours, it can continue for up to 24 to 48 hours. In addition to the symptoms listed earlier, if you experience redness or swelling at the injection site, or if you develop a rash or difficulty breathing, seek medical attention immediately. It’s worth noting that cotton fever is not exclusive to a specific type of drug or drug user.
When someone first presents to a medical professional or emergency department with cotton fever symptoms, it may alarm the treatment team, as the symptoms can be similar to those of someone with sepsis. A study by Harrison et al. found that while cotton fever is often benign, it’s crucial to rule out more serious conditions like endocarditis or pneumonia in febrile drug users. Because the drugs enter the bloodstream immediately with injection drug use, they can cause a more intense reaction that’s short-lived. The rapid and intense effects can make the drug more dangerous, as it encourages repeated use. Cotton particles in the bloodstream cause chemical reactions, just like a medication.
Most people find that resting, staying hydrated, and managing fever symptoms help what is cotton fever symptoms, causes, and treatment ease discomfort while the body recovers. In the next section, we’ll discuss the best ways to treat cotton fever and alleviate symptoms as quickly as possible. There are several theories about what specifically causes cotton fever, but the most widely accepted explanation involves bacterial contamination and endotoxins.
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