Is fever a good thing or bad?

Question

I know that fever - as a defence mechanism - is a natural reaction of body in order to weaken microorganisms through high temperature, so it seems useful. But why physicians try to decrease fever level? Isn't it against the nature?

Answer 1

Amazingly, no one bothered to research the answer. Here are the facts:

Fever does NOT enhance the growth rate either of viruses or bacteria- local temperature elevation merely increases. allong with other inflammatory mediators, the delivery of cells to ingest or otherwise neutralize bacteria and viruses. But fever is only a PART of that response, and the experience of the entire body being hot when only one area needs to have increase in heat is uncomfortable and, on rare occasions, dangerous.

So- treating fever with antipyretics has never been shown to reduce the ability of a person to recover from infection. Antipyretics seldom affect the local increase in heat from an infected focus, only the whose body temperature.

Why do doctors treat, you ask, if fever is natural? Two reasons : 1. to make patients more comfortable, and 2. To determine whether the illness is serious.

Almost no one understands the second part - so let me explain it: Sick infants and children with high fever often look alarmingly ill- parents are anxious, and cant really gauge whether its simply a high fever or a really serious illness that has their baby so sick. Antipyretics in this case make it clear which is the case: if the infant perks up a lot when fever is reduced, then teh illness is not likely to be very serious. In this case treating with antipyretics might help avoid dehydration in a sick baby. But if the fever comes down and baby is STILL lethargic- the doctor needs to do tests and observe more carefully for the possibility of sepsis, meningitis, or other more overwhelming disease.

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/fever_in_children/article_em.htm
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/fever_in_adults/article_em.htm

Answer 2

Fever up to a certain point helps your body fight whatever organism that is attacking your body... but too high of a fever can be damaging. An over the counter fever reducer (like acetominophen) will help bring it down, but if it doesn't work, a call to the doctor is in order.

Answer 3

Fever, initially, is a good thing!...As a Warning!...It alerts the person, a child's parents, etc. that something is wrong with their bodily condition.

The increasing heat, however, provides the proper conditions for the micro-organisms to multiply even more rapidly...causing even more pain & suffering...& brings body temperature up even higher!

Decreasing the body temperature slows the rate of mutation...and the properly-diagnosed antibiotic medicine kills the unwanted microbes.

Answer 4

My doctor suggests letting the fever run it's course unless it is over 102 degrees. Once it reaches a high temperature it can be more destructive than constructive.

Answer 5

Your body temp goes up as an indication that your body is trying to heal or fight infection. Docs use drugs to bring your temp down because a high temp can cause convulsions and death. They will usually use these drugs with antibiotics (if you have an infection).

Answer 6

Good point....and a lot of people go straight to the doctor for the slightest sniffle to get meds...which leads to strains and mutations that become resistant to antibiotics...
If at all possible, let your body fight it off naturally

Answer 7

Depends on how high it gets. Too high is dangerous, as low grade is helpful. They say as long as you don't feel too bad, you don't really need to medicate. 103-104 degrees is very dangerous but I've seen higher. You don't want to let it go becuase you can have febrile seizures or permanent brain damage.

Answer 8

yes, fever is good, maybe up to 40`C . if it goes further up, it will damage your own body's cells too, so thats why they are keeping it low.

Answer 9

no its not against the nature..
f it will continue 4long tym, not only it will weaken the microorganism but also you..

Answer 10

good and bad
both to some extent