Fevers - friend or foe?

rich.d.berry

I've recently learned, after suffering a bout of tick bite fever where I had a raging fever for days, that elevated temperatures are a defence mechanism against bacteria and viruses. The elevated temperature makes the environment less beneficial for the contagion and it gives our immune system a better chance of bringing the infection under control.

I also read that one of the reasons why the Ebola virus is so persistent and difficult to treat once a person is infected is because it has developed the ability to cope with higher temperatures than our bodies can cope with.

In my newly formed opinion, an elevated temperature should be seen as beneficial. I'm puzzled, therefore, why the first thing we do is reach for the antipyretics when we get the merest hint of a fever?

I know that very high fevers in children can lead to febrile convulsions.

Anyone wish to weigh in?

gctest50

rich.d.berry wrote: »

.........
I also read that one of the reasons why the Ebola virus is so persistent and difficult to treat once a person is infected is because it has developed the ability to cope with higher temperatures than our bodies can cope with.
..........

bit off topic but Ebola is a bit lazy - you just can't get the staff anymore

an unassertive community of modest bacteria built a set of nuclear reactors that ran for millions of years.

http://www.alamut.com/proj/98/nuclearGarden/bookTexts/Lovelock_Oklo.html

WhatNowHow

rich.d.berry wrote: »

I've recently learned, after suffering a bout of tick bite fever where I had a raging fever for days, that elevated temperatures are a defence mechanism against bacteria and viruses. The elevated temperature makes the environment less beneficial for the contagion and it gives our immune system a better chance of bringing the infection under control.

I also read that one of the reasons why the Ebola virus is so persistent and difficult to treat once a person is infected is because it has developed the ability to cope with higher temperatures than our bodies can cope with.

In my newly formed opinion, an elevated temperature should be seen as beneficial. I'm puzzled, therefore, why the first thing we do is reach for the antipyretics when we get the merest hint of a fever?

I know that very high fevers in children can lead to febrile convulsions.

Anyone wish to weigh in?

A very high temperature can denature the bodies natural enzymes as their optimum temperature is body temp that is how the bacteria/virus is killed by denaturation of their enzymes.
A high temp of greater than 39 can cause irreversible brain damage that is why it is important to have them controlled

echo beach

rich.d.berry wrote: »

In my newly formed opinion, an elevated temperature should be seen as beneficial. I'm puzzled, therefore, why the first thing we do is reach for the antipyretics when we get the merest hint of a fever?

A fever is a defence mechanism but it can be a blunt instrument. If you are strong and fit a few days with an elevated temperature probably won't do you any harm but an antipyretic may make you feel more comfortable and other treatments like antibiotics may sort out whatever was causing the fever.
If you are very young or very old or very sick then a high fever could lead to all sorts of other problems, like the febrile convulsions you mentioned or dehydration so getting the temperature down becomes important.