Post Viral Fatigue
Post-viral fatigue refers to lingering feelings of extreme tiredness or fatigue following a viral illness. It is a complex condition that healthcare professionals don’t fully understand. As a result, the treatments available usually focus on managing symptoms.
Post-viral fatigue can affect anyone, but as elderly people are more susceptible to viruses like the flu, they may be at slightly higher risk. What’s more, older adults may be more impacted by extreme fatigue due to their age, frailty and existing medical conditions.
In this guide, we explore what post-viral fatigue is, common symptoms to look out for and available treatment options. Plus, we share how receiving specialist home care support can benefit older people recovering from post-viral fatigue in the short or long-term.
What is fatigue?
Fatigue is an extreme feeling of exhaustion or tiredness. This may mean that even after a good night’s sleep, you wake feeling unrested or that simple everyday activities like brushing your hair or cleaning your teeth make you feel worn out.
Although experiencing some fatigue is normal now and again, lingering fatigue after a viral infection, such as the flu, could indicate that you have post-viral fatigue.
How is post-viral fatigue different from fatigue?
Post-viral fatigue is lingering fatigue that persists following a viral illness, such as the flu. The length of time it lasts can vary significantly from person to person, but it is likely to persist for some time and disrupt your ability to function normally.
Fatigue on the other hand usually only lasts for a short period and may follow a period of disturbed sleep, due to an illness or emotional upheaval, like the loss of a loved one.
What are the symptoms of post-viral fatigue?
The main symptom of post-viral fatigue is a complete lack of energy, even if you get a good night’s sleep and plenty of rest throughout the day. But other symptoms can include:
- Problems concentrating
- Difficulty remembering things
- A sore throat
- Headache
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Unexplained muscle or joint pains
What causes post-viral fatigue?
Post-viral fatigue is a complex condition, and healthcare professionals are not sure why some people experience this condition after having a virus. However, it is thought it could be linked to:
- An unusual response to viruses that can remain latent in the body
- Increased inflammation in the body
- Nervous tissue inflammation
How is post-viral fatigue diagnosed?
It can be difficult for healthcare professionals to diagnose post-viral fatigue as fatigue can also be a sign of many other health conditions and a natural part of ageing. However, it’s important to seek help if you are concerned you may be experiencing this condition.
To diagnose post-viral fatigue, your doctor will normally ask you about your symptoms and perform a physical examination. They may also request a urine sample and blood tests to help rule out other health conditions, such as hypothyroidism, diabetes, or anaemia.
How long does post-viral fatigue last?
There is no clear timeline for post-viral fatigue, and the amount of time it lasts can vary significantly from person to person. Many people experience symptoms for a few months following a virus, but it can take a year or more for others to feel fully recovered.
The important thing is to make sure you get plenty of rest when experiencing symptoms as this can help give your body the chance to recover.
What treatments are available for post-viral fatigue?
There is no specific treatment for post-viral fatigue, instead, treatment options focus on managing your symptoms. This can include:
- Taking over-the-counter pain relief like ibuprofen and paracetamol
- Using a calendar and other memory aids to help alleviate symptoms linked to memory problems
- Getting plenty of rest and taking things easy
- Using relaxation techniques, such as yoga, meditation, massage and acupuncture
- Seeking day-to-day support from trusted home carers like Trusted Homecare
How home care can support elderly people experiencing post-viral fatigue?
Post-viral fatigue can be a frustrating and debilitating condition that impacts an older person’s ability to perform day-to-day tasks, like washing and dressing, preparing meals or managing their medications independently. Not getting the right support can prolong the symptoms of post-viral fatigue as well as leading to feelings of overwhelm that worsen a person’s overall health and well-being.
Making sure elderly people experiencing post-viral fatigue have plenty of opportunities to rest is therefore vital to their recovery. As a result, older people may benefit from nationwide live-in care during their recovery.
At Trinity Homecare, we can help arrange this through reablement care to ensure your loved one gets the support they need while recovering from post-viral fatigue. Although a short-term form of home care, should your loved one feel they would benefit from ongoing care following recovery from post-viral fatigue, we can arrange long-term visiting or live-in care.
Trusted care at home from Trinity Homecare
If you’re looking for dedicated home care for you or a loved one trust Trinity Homecare. For the past 25 years, we have provided the highest standards of care in the comfort of people’s own homes.
What’s more, we are a fully managed care agency with an ‘Outstanding’ CQC rating, placing Trinity amongst the top 4% of all nationwide care companies in England. With this in mind, you can rest assured that your loved one will receive the highest standard of care and specialist support.
If you have any questions about arranging care, simply get in touch with our helpful and knowledgeable care team.
Arranging nationwide home care with Trinity is straightforward. Simply follow these five steps:
- Call our care team
- Undergo a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your care needs and arrange a care assessment
- After the assessment, a plan of care is created
- A well-suited carer is found and placed
- Care can be adapted at any time