Fatigue, headache, chills, hot flashes, sweating… these are some indicators that suggest your body is experiencing a fever. However, the latter is not a disease, but a symptom. This is indeed the sign that your body is getting ready to fight against an attack due to a virus or bacteria. This reaction is therefore often a necessary defense mechanism. Let's find out why in this article.
Normal human temperature is around 37°C. When an infection or disease occurs, the immune system intervenes . This can stimulate the hypothalamus, the part of the brain in charge of the body's thermal regulation. The blood vessels then tighten to limit heat loss. Similarly, shivering helps to increase the temperature by agitating the muscles. Once it exceeds 38°C, it is called a fever . It can then persist for several days or a handful of hours. At the same time, the metabolism seeks to return to normal temperature by reducing the heat input, for example. This is why we sweat during feverish episodes that last.
Fever is therefore an immune reaction that helps fight an infection . A high temperature would limit the proliferation of pathogens, which are not used to evolving in an environment above 38°C. The increased heart rate during fever would also provide better blood circulation in the body and allow faster dispatch of means of control to the site of the infection. In addition, the production of antibodies would be increased, as well as the capacities of "draining" the microbes.
Fever appears to be a useful defense mechanism for the human body. So we should not necessarily try to lower it by all means. In addition, this symptom remains an essential indicator for doctors who follow the evolution of a patient's state of health. In order to leave the field free for your immune system to defend itself, rest is recommended. Also remember not to cover yourself too much and especially to drink a lot. Nevertheless, especially for a pregnant woman, it is important to consult in certain cases:
