Fever or pyrexia (from the Greek pyr meaning fire) is one of the most common medical signs and is characterized by an elevation of body temperature above the normal range of 36.5–37.5 °C (98–100 °F) due to an increase in the temperature regulatory set-point in the hypothalamus.
There are many arguments for and against the use of fever for our body and the subject is still controversial. However, high fever can be beneficial it it impairs the growth and reproduction of a pathogenic organism. It is one of the body's natural defense mechanisms.
Research has demonstrated that fever assists the healing process in several important ways:
1. Increased mobility of leukocytes
2. Enhanced leukocytes phagocytosis
3. Endotoxin effects decreased
4. Increased proliferation of T cells
Of course, you can read more on this big issue in your books or
online, but I thought it would be useful to right a few words here because it is a basic knowledge that every Physical Therapist should have.
