simcha613 -“I don’t understand the logic in using different types of medications to reduce fever. Isn’t fever part of the body’s natural defense system to fight disease? Why are we trying to turn off the system that G-d created?”
You make a good point.
From the Merck Manual (not the whole article) (which btw I own a copy):
“Treatment of fever:
Specific causes are treated with anti-infective therapy; empiric anti-infective therapy is required when suspicion of serious infection is high.
Whether fever due to infection should be treated with antipyretics is controversial. Experimental evidence, but not clinical studies, suggests that fever enhances host defenses.
Fever should probably be treated in certain patients at particular risk, including adults with cardiac or pulmonary insufficiency or with dementia. Drugs that inhibit brain cyclooxygenase effectively reduce fever:”
Tylenol, Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Aleve, etc.
So basically only in some people or if it goes too high will the fever in itself be dangerouus & should be treated. The main reason people grab the pill bottle is because fever usually accompanies fatigue, chills, sweats, etc. and popping a pill makes people feel better – creature comfort. I’m just like e/o else -the pill makes me feel better so I pop ’em.