Fever, friend or foe?

For many, the moment the thermometer climbs, our first instinct is to panic and want to bring it down.But what if fever isn’t always something to fear?A mild to moderate fever (up to 39.5 or 40 without severe symptoms) is often one of the body’s remarkable defence mechanisms.When bacteria or viruses enter the body, your immune system responds by raising your core temperature.Why?Because many disease-causing microbes reproduce less efficiently at higher temperatures, while key immune cells often function more effectively. Fever is one of the ways your body helps create an environment that supports the immune response.Rather than asking, “How do I get rid of this fever?”Perhaps the better question is: “How can I support my body while it does the work it was designed to do?”That way, you speed up recovery, not delay it by suppressing the mechanism that eliminates the bacteria – the fever!