eli5: If fever is our body’s response to kill an infection, then why do we take medicines like paracetamol that control the fever?

Question

Also, I get that the fever can get really high at some point, which causes other effects, but why is our body not able to control its response to the infection so as to not do more harm with the fever?

In: 59

Answer 1

For comfort. A fever *can* slow the rate of infection when your body is fighting many common illnesses, but so can fortifying your body with adequate rest and nutrition. Side effects of a fever can include shivering, sweating and body aches. It’s hard to rest when you’re uncomfortable.