Can Fever Be a Symptom of Alcohol Withdrawal?
Alcohol is an addictive substance, and stopping its use can mean a person goes through a state of withdrawal for some time until their body acclimates to its new state. Alternatively, it can be called detox or detoxification, but it’s always the same process: you reduce or cease your consumption of a drug or alcohol. Alcohol use disorder can be either a psychological or physical dependence, but it can also be a combination of both. Withdrawal symptoms range from mild to severe based on factors such as your physical health, age, how long you have been using, and how you are going through withdrawal. The process of detoxing from alcohol can result in many withdrawal symptoms, and fever is one of them.
Just What Is Alcohol Withdrawal Fever?
The condition of alcohol withdrawal fever is a state where the body reacts to an absence of alcohol in the body after long-term use of the substance. It doesn’t happen to everyone who quits alcohol, but it is more likely among those who have consumed high volumes over a long period. Prolonged alcohol consumption at excessive levels can disturb your body’s ability to manage its temperature, and that can make your body heat rise during the period of withdrawal. Alcohol withdrawal fever is serious enough to warrant professional supervision during the process of detoxification. This is even more paramount if other withdrawal symptoms happen at the same time.
What Is a Fever?
Many people are familiar with fevers, especially if they get sick during the winter and their bodies try to fight off an infection. But fevers might have multiple causes. Generally speaking, a fever happens when your body elevates its temperature. An average human body temperature is 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit so a slight fever might happen between 99.5F and 100.3F. Temperatures higher than that warrant medical attention, and they’re usually indicative of infections present. Care providers should put you through a physical exam to identify the specific cause of your fever. Alcoholics who quit cold turkey, though, should be prepared for alcohol withdrawal fever. Other symptoms can happen during withdrawal, and some of them can be life-threatening. Alcohol withdrawal fever can happen in just two hours after someone stops drinking. This is why those battling alcohol use disorder shouldn’t quit drinking suddenly without medical assistance or supervision.
Causes of Fever
Fevers have many potential causes, but they’re usually foreign objects present in the human body. Specific examples include a drug, bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Other toxic substances might also qualify, however. Multiple research studies have demonstrated that the human body regards alcohol specifically as a being a toxic substance. Most forms of substance use disorder, regardless of the specific drug in question, can lead to an accumulation of toxic substances inside the human body. When foreign objects are present, the body activates immune responses. Toxins that are present provoke reactions in the brain’s hypothalamus to boost the physical temperature of the body in an attempt to fight foreign substances. Fevers often happen after infections, such as a cold or the flu, gastroenteritis, or infections that impact the throat, ears, bladder, lungs, and kidneys. Other potential sources include certain medications and autoimmune disorders.
Excessive consumption of alcohol can result in deficiencies in the immune system. Alcohol changes the molecules and cells that form the immune system, and individuals who partake in heavy drinking over a long period are more likely to fall prey to infections. Specific examples include meningitis, lung abscess, and cellulitis. The impact of alcohol on a person’s immune system would also put an alcoholic at higher risk of developing conditions associated with the human immune system, such as tuberculosis. Serious cases of alcohol use disorder might result in Wernicke’s encephalopathy. This condition happens due to thiamine deficiency. Wernicke’s encephalopathy typically includes poor motor coordination, mental confusion, and losing control over eye movements. It then develops into Korsakoff syndrome. Complications related to alcohol use disorder can be life-threatening, and the fevers they trigger are also potentially dangerous.
How Do Alcohol Withdrawal Fevers Happen?
Alcoholics can get fevers anytime during their consumption, but they’re also very likely when they stop. The specific cause isn’t entirely clear. However, it is known that heavy drinking makes it hard for the body to manage its temperature. This is one of the dangers of alcohol because individuals with a high level of blood alcohol might think their temperature is higher than it is in reality. When combined with serious confusion that can happen while drunk, they might put themselves in conditions where hypothermia can happen. The terms pyrexia, hyperthermia, and hypothermia are interchangeable.
If you suddenly cease drinking, your body is going to take notice that a substance is missing. Frequent alcohol use usually results in a growing tolerance, and a brain that has to operate without the addictive substance suddenly goes into a state of shock. If you’ve been drinking for a long time and then suddenly stop or drastically cut back, then alcohol withdrawal syndrome is likely to take place. This can happen in just a few hours after your last drink. Potential symptoms include elevated heart rate, tremors, headaches, nausea, and mild fevers. Quitting drinking doesn’t result in a fever. Instead, the fever results due to complications associated with the excitability of the human brain after you have stopped drinking.
Fever is an uncommon symptom of alcohol withdrawal. Most of the time, the fever is slight and doesn’t rise above the 100F mark. However, a chronic alcoholic might experience delirium tremens, and that can result in a high-grade fever and high blood pressure at the same time. Different alcoholics go through different withdrawal experiences.
Mild and moderate drinkers are more likely to go through acute symptoms that get worse over several days and then last weeks; a slight fever can be a part of that experience. Yet, there are cases where alcohol withdrawal starts with acute symptoms early before turning into severe symptoms later on. Deteriorating symptoms that turn unbearable can result in emergency room visits among chronic alcoholics.
Alcohol withdrawal fever usually subsides within one week following the last drink, but it might stick around longer than that. As such, continual monitoring of an alcoholic’s vitals and temperature is crucial while detoxification is happening. Frequent alcohol withdrawal symptoms include the following:
- Chills
- Clammy skin
- Confusion
- Disorientation
- Hallucinations
- Hypertension
- Irritability
- Nausea
- Nightmares
- Rapid heart rate
- Restlessness
- Seizures
- Sweating
- Vomiting
Managing Alcohol Withdrawal Fever Risk
If you intend to quit drinking or reduce your alcohol consumption, then you should implement strategies that help you lower your risk of fever and potentially life-threatening conditions. One strategy is gradual reduction. Many withdrawal symptoms, such as alcohol fever, are more likely to happen when prolonged and heavy consumption leads straight to quitting abruptly. Going through a method of gradual reduction means your body has a chance to adjust more slowly as your alcohol levels go down and your mental health improves. This method is also called tapering, and it works best under the supervision of a healthcare professional who can guide you.
You need to eat a balanced diet if you want to get through the detox process without harsh physical repercussions. When you have a steady supply of nutritious foods, it’s easier to maintain your overall well-being and keep your energy levels up.
Stress management is also key. High levels of stress can result in both cravings for alcohol and exacerbation of withdrawal symptoms. Consider yoga, tai chi, meditation, and breathing exercises to manage your stress levels while you go through alcohol withdrawal.
Medical supervision is strongly advisable if you have gone through withdrawal symptoms previously or have a personal history of alcohol use disorder. You should seek out healthcare providers during or before your attempt to quit alcohol. They can provide a customized plan that might involve symptom management through medications.
Professional treatment in a detox center or rehab facility might offer you a supportive and structured environment to give up alcohol. You can get access to counseling, therapy, and medical supervision that helps you manage both the mental and physical sides of your alcohol use disorder.
Stay hydrated. Being dehydrated usually makes withdrawal symptoms worse. Drink lots of water, and complement your beverages with fruits and vegetables. Having enough healthy fluids is crucial to managing your temperature and preventing a fever.
Treating an Alcohol Withdrawal Fever
Treating a fever resulting from alcohol detox isn’t much different from treating any other fever. Stay hydrated with water, herbal teas, and clear broths, and get enough rest so your body can recover. Apply a cool compress to your neck or forehead to reduce your fever. Acetaminophen can help lower your body temperature, but make sure you avoid alcohol when using it and adhere to proper dosing guidelines. High fevers or fevers not responsive to home remedies warrant medical attention. Severe symptoms or persistent fever are also situations where consulting a medical professional is advisable.
Alcoholism Awareness Is Our Mission
Over 85% of American adults say they’ve had alcohol sometime during their life, and more than 25% of them participated in binge drinking in just the last month. Despite these statistics, less than 10% of individuals with alcohol use disorder in the last year got treatment. Alcohol withdrawal fever is real, and withdrawal from alcohol should be handled under medical supervision or in a dedicated detox center. Our mission is spreading awareness about alcohol use disorder and helping others find resources to get help. We’re recovering alcoholics ourselves, so we know how difficult it can be to find resources that are both free and reputable. If you’re looking for help for yourself or someone you care about, visit our website or call us 24/7 at 855-955-0771.