Don’t Be Afraid of Fever!

The conditions we call illness are nothing more than our body’s efforts to heal itself. During this healing process, our body uses unique defense mechanisms, and perhaps the strongest of these is fever.

Fever is the body’s most powerful defense mechanism

Microorganisms usually enter through the mouth or nose, the gateways of our upper respiratory tract, or sometimes through damaged areas on our skin or mucous membranes. When these foreign agents are detected, our defense system wants to use its strongest weapon right away to limit or eliminate their activity in that area: FEVER.

When fever rises above 39.5°C, microorganisms lose their activity

Normally, our body temperature averages between 36.4 and 37°C. Most microorganisms start to lose activity and become ineffective at 39.5°C. Knowing this, the body initiates an increase in temperature in the area where the pathogen entered. This increase can only be achieved by transferring heat from the surrounding skin to this region. In other words, the source of this heat is the body’s own organs and tissues. The shortest route for this transfer is the large surface area of skin on our arms and legs.

Why do arms and legs feel cold during a fever?

Imagine an infection starting in our throat. The defense mechanism, wanting to raise the temperature in this area to 39.5°C, immediately begins the process. By sacrificing heat from surrounding areas, it transfers heat through the skin from the arms, legs, and even the abdominal skin to the throat and its surroundings, where the “battle” will take place. As the neck area’s temperature rises by 2.5 to 3 degrees, the arms, legs, and abdomen cool by the same amount. In this situation, the person will feel cold in their feet, arms, and abdomen — almost their entire body — but will feel burning heat in the neck area. Once fever reaches 39.5°C, it can continue to rise to 40°C or higher, provided it isn’t actively reduced at this point.

Is sweating after fever a sign of recovery?

Our body, once it’s sure that the pathogen is completely inactive, will want to reduce the fever to a normal level. It does this in the best way possible — through sweating. With a cool sweat, body temperature gradually returns to normal, and the person begins to feel better. This is why our ancestors thought sweating was a sign of recovery and would advise the sick to “wrap up, rest well, and if you sweat, you’ll get better.”

If your child isn’t at risk for febrile seizures, don’t fear fever!

Setting aside the risk of seizures, we can say that fever is a highly beneficial and effective defense weapon. In fact, it has been scientifically proven that trying to reduce fever increases the risk of seizures, while allowing it to run its course decreases this risk. No medication produced anywhere in the world is as effective as fever in fighting pathogens.