Most people consider fever as a problem to be solved immediately by reducing it. From a biological point of view however, fever is one of the body’s natural ways of defense against infections.
The moment bacteria or viruses get into the body, immune cells will give off chemical substances known as cytokines that will inform the brain’s temperature, regulating center (the hypothalamus) to set the body temperature higher. This artificially induced temperature rise will create an environment that is very unfavourable to the pathogens and at the same time will turn on the immune system.
To some extent, a raised body temperature can interfere with bacteria and viruses which they need to grow. So immune cells will have more time to carry out the infection, killing process. Besides that, fever is responsible for the creation and stimulation of white blood cells, antibodies and immune signaling molecules that are responsible for the body’s various responses.
Trending studies also reveal that fever, like body temperatures boost the functioning of immune cells such as T, cells, which play a major role in pursuit and elimination of the infected cells.
In a nutshell, fever is not simply a symptom, it is a part of the bodys built, in survival strategy for combating the diseases.
On the other hand, very high or continuously recurring fevers can be life, threatening and must be taken to the doctor but mild ones indicate that your immune system is at work to keep you safe.
If fever is part of the body’s defense system, should we always try to reduce it immediately or sometimes let it do its job?
MBH/AB