If the purpose of a fever is to help the body fight an infection why is paracetamol prescribed to bring it down?
In: Biology
As explained by the others, fever is not a concern apart from mild discomfort, UNLESS it reaches certain temperature, where it starts to get dangerous. Why? Because protein, enzymes, cells, start to break at some point.
Now, acetaminophen (paracetamol) works by inhibiting an enzyme called COX-3. In short, it causes mild analgesia, and lower inflammatory reactions especially in our Central Nervous System, which in turn, affects hypothalamus (part that controls our body temp), and lower our body temp.
Moreover, COX-3 inhibition also have mild sedative effect (still, some people are completely unaffected). This also helps you rest (sleep) when you’re sick.
The combination of mild sedative and mild analgesia ultimately helps you rest better and recover faster, and that’s why doctors often prescribe it for almost every person with fever that has no contraindication.
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However, the current recommendation is to not take anti-inflammatory drugs for COVID-19. Probably because it will also slightly reduces your immune system. If you can stay at home, maybe now it’s best to not take any unnecessary medicine and just observe your symptoms a and watch out for any danger signs.
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