So Why Do You want to Brake a Fever?

[M.D. Holloway]

Provided the child isn't running a 104+ temp, why would you want to brake that fever? Isn't a fever the bodies natural defese against an infection? I seemed to have remebered studying something in micobiology that when the body heats up it is trying to snap the virus then establish an activated antigen from the genetic information obtained. That info is than used to establish immunity to the next virus that comes down the pike with the same DNA.

If a kid runs a fever and you keep then quite and well hydrated, aren't you allowing their body to understand how to fight infection and you also allow then to deal with discomfort?

I say this because we never gave our some any pain meds when he had a cold or even ran a fever. He rarely if ever got sick and his a high tolerence for discomfort. Our daughter is the opposit. We medicate her with childrens motrin and she is a big wuss when it comes to pain - she also seems to get sick 20X more than him.

So by wanting to provide more comfort to her, we infact have allowed her to get sick more often?

[Hugh R]

I've always wondered the same thing. That's the purpose of the temperature, to fight the virus, same thing with an infected cut that get hot, its the white blood cells trying to do their thing.

[bryanthompson]

When I get a fever I just pile on the blankets and sweat it out. I dunno what the correct answer is, though.

[cstreit]

Always wondered this myself. WHere's Moses when you need him?!

[BlueSkyJaunte]

Moses is sick from some guy who coughed on him at work. He's currently trying to break a fever.

[JavaBrewer]

Interesting. My 9 yr/old son rarely gets sick and when he does manages to kick it within a day or two. On the opposite side of the spectrum my 6 yr/old daughter who gets sick frequently and requires several rounds of perscriptive stuff. Everytime she gets a fever it immediately climbs to the 104 range and we have to break out the Motrin. That will usually lower temp to 100 range where she is safe but still allows the body to fight the virus. Repeat every six hours for 3 days -- no sleep for the parents.

[targa911S]

A shot of bourbon in warm water with a spoon of sugar. Two asprin go to bed. sweat like hell, change Pj's often.

[gaijindabe]

Very, very good point Mike.

[tabs]

It makes me sick just having to read this thread...

[RickM]

If the fever gets too high don't internal organs suffer? Including the brain? In some cases to the point of death?

Good question. Wonder if anyone knows the right answer.

[gaijindabe]

Originally posted by RickM
If the fever gets too high don't internal organs suffer?

Your little boys stop swimming. A good reason to stay out of the hot tub if you want kids anytime soon..

[TerryBPP]

Yep, Rick is correct. You can actually suffer severe brain damage due to high fever. I believe the reason to get it down is so it doesn't get to high and cause harm.

[dhoward]

...but I think the term is actually as in "the fever broke" meaning that the period of high fever is over and the body's defense mechanisms have essentially won. I don't believe you can 'brake' (sic) a fever. You can help reduce it using analgesics and cool compresses....
I don't even play a doctor on TV...

[targa911S]

How far into the corner can you go before you have to brake the fever?

[wludavid]

Originally posted by tcar
I know it's an automotive forum, but it's BREAK a fever, not Brake. That's what your car does...

My car does both. Breaks and brakes.

[Nathans_Dad]

In children very high fevers can cause them to have seizures. Other than that you are correct.

Fever is the body's defense mechanism. In general viruses and bacteria replicate slower in a hotter environment and more importantly your white blood cells work better in a warmer environment. Thus you are able to fight the infection a bit better with a fever than without.

We generally treat fevers for comfort. It's similar to diarrhea or vomiting or a host of other defense mechanisms that we try and get rid of because they make us unhappy. Diarrhea is a way for the body to flush bugs out of the system, as is vomiting. But they aren't very much fun to have so we take medications to get rid of them.

Long story short, as long as the fever isn't high, you don't HAVE to give medications to lower it.

[Moses]

A fever only provides moderate bacteriostasis, at best. You may elevate your temp out of the infectious bugs ideal growth range, but it happens at significant risk. High fevers can cause brain damage, organ failure, seizures and death.

People have speculated that a fever is an adaptive response designed to fight infection, but it may be just as likely the bacteria and viruses release pyrogens in order to weaken the host and allow the infection to continue.

[widebody911]

Originally posted by tcar
I know it's an automotive forum, but it's BREAK a fever, not Brake. That's what your car does...

Cut him a break, he's been on a bender...

[cstreit]

Originally posted by Moses
A fever only provides (snip)

Pyrogens, Viruses, bacteria, oh my

Pyrogens, Viruses, bacteria, OH MY

PYROGENS, VIRUSES, BACTERIA, OH MY!

(long day at the computer screen, sorry but it was funny to me when I thought it)

[Nathans_Dad]

While it is certainly true that bacteria can secrete some pyrogens, the primary player in the "usual" fever due to infection is Interleukin-1. This is secreted from white cells in response to fighting bacteria. Numerous studies have shown that white cells move faster and are able to "eat" bacteria better under fever temperatures.

A short article on the physiology of fever is in the link below, there is a PDF file with the full text of the article for free if anyone is interested.

http://physiologyonline.physiology.org/cgi/content/abstract/1/1/25