Medicine concerns with fever
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Popping a little Ibuprofen when you start feeling feverish may not be a good idea after all. Researchers at McMaster University say fever reducing drugs may actually lead to tens of thousands more cases of influenza each year.
It’s the first thing most of us reach for when we’re sick, especially to break a fever. And, after giving the meds a little time to kick in, many people power on with their day.
David Earn is one of 3 McMaster university researchers to uncover the truth about fever reducing drugs. By lowering your temperature, it can increase infectiousness: “You feel better. You’re more likely to interact with people. And you’re more likely to infect them than if you hadn’t taken the medication in the first place. They might realize that it’s still possible that they could infect somebody at work or at school, but I certainly wouldn’t have guessed in advance that you’re more likely to infect those people because you’ve reduced your fever.”
Fever is the body’s natural response for fighting infection. Reducing fever causes more “viral shedding” or an enhanced ability to infect. Why this happens is unclear. One theory, fever hinders viral production.
David says: “The virus inside you doesn’t replicate as well as it would at lower temperatures. Your body raising it’s temperature reduces the amount of virus produced.”
Fever also ramps up the body’s immune system.
David says: “Raising your body temperature stimulates the immune system. And so your immune system kicks in harder than if you keep it at a lower temperature.”
Researchers suggest the use of fever suppressing meds actually increases the spread of influenza by 5%; a significant number when considering population levels. However, earn says the overall message isn’t skip the meds.
David concludes: “Although it will make you feel better it could also increase your infectiousness and you should be extra cautious about potentially transmitting to others.”
As for the big picture, David Earn and his McMaster colleagues say they need to do a little more research before making any concrete policy proposals.
