Symptom 2: Fever and Chills
When the body is under attack, fever is often the first line of defense. A brain abscess is no exception. The immune system raises the body temperature to fight off the invading pathogens. If you’re experiencing a high fever alongside persistent headaches, it could be an indicator of a brain abscess.
A fever can start subtly, with a slight rise in body temperature. You may initially dismiss it as a symptom of fatigue or a common cold. However, in conjunction with other symptoms, it might be signaling a more significant problem.
Another manifestation of the body’s defense mechanism against the brain abscess is chills. As your body is raising its internal temperature to ward off the infection, you may feel cold and start shivering. This contrast of feeling cold while running a fever is a rather telltale sign of a systemic response to an infection.
Moreover, this fever often refuses to be tamed by conventional fever reducers. Much like the persistent headache, the fever tied to a brain abscess is stubborn. It lingers despite efforts to control it with typical antipyretic treatments. (2)
