The Role of Fever in The Past and Present

Over the past 40-50 years, intensive research has been carried out to investigate the role of fever. Although there is still debate whether fever is beneficial or harmful. There is evidence now indicates that the effects of fever are complex but overall beneficial. Accumulated data from extensive research suggest that fever has a protective role in promoting host defence against infection, rather than being a passive by-product. There is evidence that fever exerts an overall adverse effect on the growth of bacteria and some tumours, as well as on replication of viruses. It also enhances immunological processes.
Although scientific evidence does not support this practice, antipyretics are often prescribed automatically for children with fever whether the child is playful or apears toxic with significant discomfort due to fever. This current practice is widely accepted although gives the wrong impression to patients, parents and other health professionals that fever per-se is harmful and that antipyretics are needed. It is the underlying disease which we should be concerned about and not the fever per se. The presence of fever could be beneficial to the infected host.