# What caused my 24 hour "flu" and high fever? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 29, 2014, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-caused-my-24-hour-flu-and-high-fever/705899 "2014-11-29T17:51:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Omega\_Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7c8e57/32.png) [@Omega\_Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omega_Glory)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2014, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-caused-my-24-hour-flu-and-high-fever/705899/1 "2014-11-29T17:51:16Z")
This happened years ago, so it’s not a request for medical advice, but it’s something I’ve been curious about ever since it happened. It was winter time, and I was hanging out on campus, between classes, when I suddenly began to ache all over, which included getting the worst headache I’ve ever had. I called the health center and they agreed to see me. The health center wasn’t that far away, but it took all my energy just to get there. They took my temperature, which was 108. They said it was probably mono, and they told me to rest and drink lots fluids. I got home and went to bed assuming I’d be sick for a couple of weeks, but when I woke up the next morning, I was back to normal, and I disregarded the advice about rest and fluids. There’s no way to know, for sure, what that was all about, but I wondered if anyone had a guess. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2014, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-caused-my-24-hour-flu-and-high-fever/705899/2 "2014-11-29T18:07:11Z")
I believe Norovirus is what people usually call the “24 hour virus” > **[Norovirus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norovirus)** > > Norovirus, sometimes referred to as the winter vomiting disease, is the most common cause of gastroenteritis. Infection is characterized by non-bloody diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach pain. Fever or headaches may also occur. Symptoms usually develop 12 to 48 hours after being exposed, and recovery typically occurs within one to three days. Complications are uncommon, but may include dehydration, especially in the young, the old, and those with other health problems. > The virus is usually spread ... ETA, also, I think it’s usually either Noro or Rotovirus that people actually have (or just a bad cold) when they say they have “the flu”. I know I’ve said this before on this board, but I know a pediatrician that, if the patient doesn’t actually have influenza, the word ‘flu’ will never even come up in the discussion. She’ll tell the parent that the kid has a stomach bug or what she thinks it might be, but she’s trying to get people to stop saying it’s the flu when it’s not. ---
**Author:** ![Omega\_Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7c8e57/32.png) [@Omega\_Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omega_Glory)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2014, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-caused-my-24-hour-flu-and-high-fever/705899/3 "2014-11-29T18:43:17Z")
Hmm, I don’t think it was norovirus. None of those symptoms that characterize that illness match up. I’m pretty sure my “flu” wasn’t actually influenza. I used it in quotes as a shorthand, to keep the title brief. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2014, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-caused-my-24-hour-flu-and-high-fever/705899/4 "2014-11-29T18:46:58Z")
> [@Omega\_Glory](#): > > Hmm, I don’t think it was norovirus. None of those symptoms that characterize that illness match up. > > I’m pretty sure my “flu” wasn’t actually influenza. I used it in quotes as a shorthand, to keep the title brief. All you gave us is aches, headache, fever\*, sucked up all your energy and it ran for 24 hours which is all listed for norovirus. Were there other symptoms? \*Are you sure it was 108? With all those other symptoms and a 108 temp, someone should have called an ambulance. That’s like a ‘you’re about to die’ temp. ETA > [@Omega\_Glory](#): > > when I suddenly began to **ache all over** , which included getting the worst **headache** I’ve ever had. I called the health center and they agreed to see me. The health center wasn’t that far away, but it **took all my energy** just to get there. They took my **temperature, which was 108**. bolding mine From wiki: > [@Norovirus](#): > > General lethargy, weakness, muscle aches, headache, and low-grade fever may occur. ---
**Author:** ![Arrendajo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Arrendajo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arrendajo)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2014, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-caused-my-24-hour-flu-and-high-fever/705899/5 "2014-11-29T18:50:27Z")
Was your temperature really 108? Because that is a dangerously high fever and I would have expected a medical facility to take immediate measures to reduce the fever and provide supportive care. ---
**Author:** ![Omega\_Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7c8e57/32.png) [@Omega\_Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omega_Glory)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2014, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-caused-my-24-hour-flu-and-high-fever/705899/6 "2014-11-29T19:00:07Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > All you gave us is aches, headache, fever\*, sucked up all your energy and it ran for 24 hours which is all listed for norovirus. Were there other symptoms? > \*Are you sure it was 108? With all those other symptoms and a 108 temp, someone should have called an ambulance. That’s like a ‘you’re about to die’ temp. > ETA > > bolding mine > > From wiki: Yes, from your cite, those are symptoms that “may” occur. Here’s the rest of the list: > [@](#): > > Norovirus infection is characterized by nausea, forceful vomiting, watery diarrhea, abdominal pain, and in some cases, loss of taste. I don’t think it’s likely that I had norovirus without having any of the usual symptoms, and only the less common ones. Yes, it was definitely 108. They seemed more concerned after that, but no one called an ambulance or kept me there. ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2014, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-caused-my-24-hour-flu-and-high-fever/705899/7 "2014-11-29T19:07:40Z")
> [@Omega\_Glory](#): > > Yes, from your cite, those are symptoms that “may” occur. Here’s the rest of the list:I don’t think it’s likely that I had norovirus without having any of the usual symptoms, and only the less common ones. > > Yes, it was definitely 108. They seemed more concerned after that, but no one called an ambulance or kept me there. IANAMD, but judging from [Fever - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fever#Hyperpyrexia) I am surprised that (a) you didn’t get a real quick trip to an ER and (b) you were capable of walking in and out of the health centre. ---
**Author:** ![Omega\_Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7c8e57/32.png) [@Omega\_Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omega_Glory)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2014, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-caused-my-24-hour-flu-and-high-fever/705899/8 "2014-11-29T19:18:58Z")
I learned exactly how dangerous that high of a fever can be after I mentioned this story in another thread awhile ago. My guess (and maybe the nurses?), after learning that, is that it spiked that high partially due to me being layered up for winter and rushing to get to the appointment. Obviously, I didn’t die, and I don’t seem to be any worse for the wear, so my temperature couldn’t have stayed that high for that long. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2014, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-caused-my-24-hour-flu-and-high-fever/705899/9 "2014-11-29T19:28:25Z")
Or it was 100.8 I’ve never seen 108. That would terrify me. 100.8 would have me telling you to go home, rest and push fluids. We were taught 107 is where brain damage starts. Most “24 hour bugs” end up being food poisoning of some sort, but almost all of those usually come with nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Sounds like my doctor’s favorite diagnosis: “Eh, it’s a virus.” There are apparently an untold number of viruses in the Ehitsavirus family, and most of them not identified or named yet. ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2014, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-caused-my-24-hour-flu-and-high-fever/705899/10 "2014-11-29T19:28:31Z")
I have had even stranger shorter “flus” where I might start feeling sick and get a slight fever like 101-102 F after getting home for the night, go to bed and wake up before dawn or in the morning feeling fine. Sometimes even vomit once or twice, and fine less than a day later. I asked about it once, I suspected food poisoning. ---
**Author:** ![Omega\_Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7c8e57/32.png) [@Omega\_Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omega_Glory)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2014, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-caused-my-24-hour-flu-and-high-fever/705899/11 "2014-11-29T19:37:48Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > Or it was 100.8 I really don’t think so, just based on the way I remember them suddenly becoming more concerned, but I wasn’t at my best at the time, so maybe. It would be something if it all was a strange reaction to food poisoning, and that’s what’s been keeping me wondering, on and off, for years. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2014, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-caused-my-24-hour-flu-and-high-fever/705899/12 "2014-11-29T20:35:26Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > I’ve never seen 108. That would terrify me. 100.8 would have me telling you to go home, rest and push fluids. We were taught 107 is where brain damage starts. Hey, maybe it wasn’t Fahrenheit. Maybe it was Celsius. 😃 Then again, maybe the OP has a cute sister who turns invisible on command too… ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2014, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-caused-my-24-hour-flu-and-high-fever/705899/13 "2014-11-29T22:36:52Z")
> [@Count\_Blucher](#): > > Hey, maybe it wasn’t Fahrenheit. Maybe it was Celsius. 😃 > Then again, maybe the OP has a cute sister who turns invisible on command too… Yup - Having boiling blood could certainly have interesting effects! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2014, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-caused-my-24-hour-flu-and-high-fever/705899/14 "2014-11-30T00:58:43Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > Or it was 100.8 > > I’ve never seen 108. That would terrify me. 100.8 would have me telling you to go home, rest and push fluids. We were taught 107 is where brain damage starts. > > Most “24 hour bugs” end up being food poisoning of some sort, but almost all of those usually come with nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Sounds like my doctor’s favorite diagnosis: “Eh, it’s a virus.” There are apparently an untold number of viruses in the Ehitsavirus family, and most of them not identified or named yet. Hell, when we were snowed in back in 1967 in a tiny town in western NY, my brother hit 103 and the doc had my mom packing him in snow in the bath tub to try and get his temperature down. The only other alternative would be trying to run him some 25 miles by snowmobile to the nearest hospital, which would not have been survivable. Yes pneumonia did used to be a possible death sentence [and can still be one if things go wrong.] ---
**Author:** ![Omega\_Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7c8e57/32.png) [@Omega\_Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omega_Glory)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2014, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-caused-my-24-hour-flu-and-high-fever/705899/15 "2014-11-30T01:08:16Z")
Which tiny town? I’m curious because that’s where I live, (and where this incident happened). It’s not the first time someone received substandard medical care. I got a cold drink and sent on my way. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2014, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-caused-my-24-hour-flu-and-high-fever/705899/16 "2014-11-30T10:23:14Z")
> [@Omega\_Glory](#): > > Which tiny town? I’m curious because that’s where I live, (and where this incident happened). > > It’s not the first time someone received substandard medical care. I got a cold drink and sent on my way. Perry NY, Wyoming County. The closest hospital being Warsaw. My brother shares my penicillin allergy. _sigh_ It made being sick in the 1960s ‘interesting’. ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2014, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-caused-my-24-hour-flu-and-high-fever/705899/17 "2014-11-30T14:51:37Z")
This is just something I pulled out of my ass, but I wonder - did the doc perhaps say “one hundred eight” and you assumed he left out “and” when in fact he left out “point”? ---
**Author:** ![Omega\_Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7c8e57/32.png) [@Omega\_Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omega_Glory)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2014, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-caused-my-24-hour-flu-and-high-fever/705899/18 "2014-11-30T15:35:28Z")
\*\*WhyNot \*\*beat you to that guess. 🙂 Like I told her, I’m fairly confident that that’s not what happened, just because of the nurse’s reaction. She didn’t seem worried at first, then she asked if I had a fever. I told her I didn’t have a thermometer. She took my temperature, became concerned and said it was a hundred and eight. I was given water to drink (without my asking), given the instructions mentioned earlier, and sent home. Someone might notice that there’s no mention of a doctor in this story; the health center was primarily staffed by nurses and nurse practitioners. This isn’t to disparage nurse practitioners, but to head any questions about the doctor off at the pass. Since this thread has only raised my curiosity, I’m going to call on Monday and see if they still have my records. > [@aruvqan](#): > > Perry NY, Wyoming County. The closest hospital being Warsaw. My brother shares my penicillin allergy. _sigh_ It made being sick in the 1960s ‘interesting’. I know Wyoming County, but not Perry. It must really be tiny. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2014, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-caused-my-24-hour-flu-and-high-fever/705899/19 "2014-11-30T18:37:37Z")
I’ve often heard “one hundred and eight” to mean 100.8 with thermometers. And she could have been concerned simply because you were running a true fever. I know I almost always get “low-grade fevers” unless I’m really, really sick. Also, our memory plays tricks on us. Maybe she said some higher number than 100 with .8, and you’ve remembered the 8 more than the other number. When recalling a memory that is strange, our brain has a tendency to make it stranger than it was every time you recall it. It’s why that big fish becomes bigger and bigger every time you tell the story. If you can find the records, that would be pretty neat. ---
**Author:** ![Inna\_Minnit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Inna\_Minnit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inna_Minnit)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2014, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-caused-my-24-hour-flu-and-high-fever/705899/20 "2014-11-30T18:42:36Z")
Yeah. IF those records still exist, I bet they are in some dark, dank, inaccessible place. Totally worth digging out to satisfy some idle curiosity to find out that you did not, in fact, have a temperature if 108°. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-caused-my-24-hour-flu-and-high-fever/705899.md?page=2)