An evolutionary feature more than 600 million years old, fevers are a common accompanyment of a wide range of infections by viruses, bacteria and fungi.
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So why exactly do we get them, should we always treat them – and at what point do they go from beneficial discomfort to a serious problem?
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Fevers signal that pathogens and other hostile actors are making our bodies their home – and that we’re putting up a fight.
Despite centuries of trying to get rid of fevers, scientists now understand that in many circumstances their benefits can actually outweigh their harms.
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When someone has a fever, the increase in temperature can support immune cells, such as white blood cells, helping them to respond faster to the threat of pathogens.
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Persistent high temperatures can lead to dehydration, as our bodies increase the production of sweat to cool us down. If our body temperature gets too high, and stays above 40C (104F) for too long, our vital systems stop functioning correctly.
