Self-limited cotton fever occurs in intravenous drug users and is a benign fasciculation syndrome. It is common in heroin and meth abusers, who use cotton balls to filter their drugs while shooting up with a needle. The main reason behind the cotton fever is Pantoea agglomerans bacterial cell in cotton plants that releases endotoxins before processing.

Another reason for contraction is drug users use the same syringe or needle multiple times to inject meth or heroin. The endotoxins or bacteria present in it make their way into the blood vessels and tissues of the user’s body, resulting in blood infection and inflammation.

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If not treated in time and the blood infection persists, the body’s immune system responds to fight against the bacteria. Thus, organs fail to function and sometimes become fatal. Its symptoms begin within minutes after injecting the substance and generally last up to 6-12 hours. Sometimes, they may continue for 24-48 hours.

A person experiencing cotton fever has to deal with the common influenza symptoms such as fever, headache, leucocytosis, vomiting, nausea, body pain, stress, and chills. However, these are accompanied by extremely dangerous complications in the respiratory system such as tachycardia (increased heartbeat) and low breath, which might kill a person.

Cotton fever is not always life-threatening as the symptoms subside within 24 hours. In the case of severe symptoms, the affected person should get hospitalized and take antibiotics as prescribed by the physician. Generally, people manage this condition with home remedies like drinking more water, warm baths, and taking time to relax and heal. However, it is better to consult a doctor than take any chances at home.