Body cut

Specialty: General.

• viral prodrome
• acute bodily breakdown
• feeling of an impending cold
• acute general malaise

Why it occurs

• Prodromal phase of acute respiratory or gastrointestinal infections of viral etiology (rhinovirus, coronavirus, adenovirus, enterovirus, where the rapid synthesis and secretion of type I interferons generates muscle pain and initial chills)
• Systemic or post-immunization vaccine reaction (physiological immune activation with production of pyrogenic cytokines after vaccine administration)
• Acute fatigue induced by extreme sleep deprivation or acute physical overexertion (accumulation of acid metabolites and muscle glycogen deprivation)
• Acute exposure to cold air currents or extreme changes in environmental temperature that alter mucociliary clearance and cause reactive peripheral vasoconstriction
• Acute stress or intense emotional crisis in the decompression phase (which generates a temporary pro-inflammatory state due to a sudden drop in plasma cortisol).

Initial workup

Active clinical surveillance in the first 24-48 hours. If symptoms persist or worsen, perform complete blood count, ultrasensitive PCR, multiplex nasopharyngeal swab for common respiratory viruses, and urine test.

Standard management

• Paracetamol — 500 to 1000 mg orally every 8 hours to relieve muscle pain and generalized feeling of weakness
• Ascorbic acid — Vitamin C, 1 g orally per day as a supporting antioxidant during the prodromal phase
• Abundant oral liquids (hot infusions, mineralized water to maintain hydration of the mucous membranes).