Fever's Secret: Mouse Study Reveals Temperature's Power

For centuries, the purpose of fever has been debated, with ancient physicians viewing it as beneficial while later generations saw it as a sickness. Modern understanding recognizes fever as part of the immune response, but its precise mechanism remains unclear.

A recent study, published in Science, investigated this by using mice, which do not naturally develop fevers when infected with influenza. Researchers engineered a human flu virus to be heat-tolerant, mimicking aspects of bird flu. They found that when mice were housed at elevated temperatures, the heat-tolerant virus caused less illness compared to the normal strain.

This suggests that elevated temperature itself plays a crucial role in fighting infection. While this doesn't discount the immune system's function, it adds a significant layer to our understanding of fever's evolutionary purpose. The findings may prompt reconsideration of readily treating fevers with medication.