Fevers Can Be Good for You
A growing body of research says they’re mostly beneficial — especially in young kids. Here’s a doctor’s advice.
“Give me a fever, and I can cure any disease.” — Hippocrates
Fever is one of the most misunderstood defense systems in the human body. Many people worry that fever is a sign of something dangerous. Parents give their kids Tylenol and ibuprofen the instant they spike a temperature and then flock to doctors to make sure their child does not have a serious infection. In fact, fever accounts for a whopping 20% of pediatric emergency department visits each year. As an emergency physician, this is a huge part of my clinical practice. And I am here to tell you fevers aren’t all bad.
Hooray for evolution. It turns out that increasing our body temperature is one of the great innovations of all time.
There is a significant body of growing evidence that suggests the benefits of fever are to be praised, especially in young children. Further research shows that most fevers are not the result of something serious, but are instead our body’s way of ridding itself of infection. Hooray for evolution. It turns out that increasing our body temperature is one of the great…
