Why do we take medicine to suppress symptoms like coughing, fever, etc. when those are our bodies way of fighting infection?

Question

I’m sick rn and I’ve taken medication to reduce my fever. But isn’t a fever your body trying to cook out the infection? Ofc it could cook me as well, but if my fever goes away then won’t that just aid the germs?

In: Biology

Answer 1

It’s just a balance. If your fever is low, let it roll! But if it’s high, you’re getting dehydrated and you might even, as you say, be cooked (or get brain damage). Similar to coughing. It’s good to get things out, but if the coughing is keeping you awake all night, you need your sleep to recover.