Paul A. Offit, MD

Humans do not have any natural immunity to COVID-19. We do not have an effective antiviral medication for nonhospitalized patients. We do not have a vaccine and may not for at least a year. Perhaps we should optimize the human body’s natural response to infections. To us, that means helping fever do its job.

When the body is invaded by a new germ, it mounts a fever. The fever ramps up our immune system, which is necessary to fight infections.

 All warm-blooded animals get fevers when they have infections. Every aspect of our immune system works better at a higher temperature. Was that a design flaw? Why would our bodies waste energy on something that isn’t helpful?

Dogs, rabbits, mice, ferrets, lizards, fish, and other species have been studied for what happens if we inject them with germs and suppress their fever. They have a higher death rate.

 Humans should be no different. Yet you ask: Are there similar studies on humans?

Research has shown that people with infections who are treated with fever-reducing medicines have symptoms that often are more severe and last longer than those who don’t take antifever medicines.

 These articles on rhinovirus, influenza, chickenpox, and other respiratory infections all showed improved outcomes if the associated fever was not treated. To date, there is no published research that shows treating fevers with antipyretics improves outcomes.

What about fever from vaccines? Two studies looked at what happens if we give prophylactic antipyretics to young children before or immediately after vaccines.

 Both found that antipyretics cause a lower antibody response when measured one month later.

Obviously, our views apply to all viral infections, not just the dangerous one that currently holds center stage. We would suggest health care professionals stop interfering with the human body’s attempt to cure itself. Here’s how we might do that:

Understand that the human body has a thermostat in the hypothalamus that keeps the fever in the optimal range for fighting infections.

Do not treat all fevers with antipyretics (acetaminophen or ibuprofen).

Never treat with combination (dual) antipyretics. It’s one of the main causes of fever phobia, mainly propagated by physicians and nurses.

Keep patients well hydrated so they can easily give off heat by sweating if they need to.

Teach the public that most fevers are good, not bad. Teach that reducing fevers may make you feel better but delay your recovery.

Teach the public that every time we give an antipyretic, we dampen the body’s natural immune response. That’s why the fever always returns when the medicine wears off.

In summary, there is evidence that fever improves outcomes for infections. Of note, there is no evidence to the contrary. Let’s be evidence based.

The human body wants to recover, to survive. Shouldn’t we support that?

Evans SS, Repasky EA, Fisher DT. Fever and the thermal regulation of immunity: The immune system feels the heat. 

Kluger MJ, Ringler DH, Anver MR. Fever and survival. 

Bernheim HA, Kluger MJ. Fever: effect of drug-induced antipyresis on survival. 

Rodbard D. The role of regional body temperature in the pathogenesis of disease. 

Stanley ED, Jackson GG, Panusarn C, Rubenis M, Dirda V. Increased virus shedding with aspirin treatment of rhinovirus infection. 

Doran TF, De Angelis C, Baumgardner RA, Mellits ED. Acetaminophen: more harm than good for chickenpox? 

Graham NM, Burrell CJ, Douglas RM, Debelle P, Davies L. Adverse effects of aspirin, acetaminophen, and ibuprofen on immune function, viral shedding, and clinical status in rhinovirus-infected volunteers. 

Sugimura T, Fujimoto T, Motoyama H, et al. Risks of antipyretics in young children with fever due to infectious disease. 

Schulman CI, Namias N, Doherty J, et al. The effect of antipyretic therapy upon outcomes in critically ill patients: a randomized, prospective study. 

Prymula R, Siegrist CA, Chilbek R, et al. Effect of prophylactic paracetamol administration at time of vaccination on febrile reactions and antibody responses in children: two open-label, randomised controlled trials. 

Li-Kim-Moy J, Wood N, Jones C, Macartney K, Booy R. Impact of fever and antipyretic use on influenza vaccine immune responses in children. 

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Most fevers are good, not bad. Here’s why pediatricians should respect fever.

Author | Paul A. Offit, MD

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