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To: neverdem

The other way to do it would be to let the body's natural processes take over.

In other words, remember that a fever is not a disease, it is actually a symptom of the body preventing viruses from replicating. When the body temperature goes above 101 degrees viral replication is shut down. This helps the immune system because it cuts down on the number of viruses the immune system will eventually have to erdicate.

But during the first few days of the viral infection the body is preparing the immune system to attack that specific virus, and if you skip the step of letting your body produce a fever then you leave the virus alone to replicate in vast numbers. Then when it has replicated virtually unchecked for a few days it can seriously overwhelm the immune system.


7 posted on 05/01/2006 6:48:04 AM PDT by webstersII
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To: webstersII
Gives truth to the old adage,

Go to the doctor, get better in 7 days, if you don't, it could take a week!.

8 posted on 05/01/2006 8:25:39 AM PDT by norraad ("What light!">Blues Brothers)
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To: webstersII

Thank you for your post. Reducing a moderate fever is counterproductive! Many people reach for the aspirin or Tylenol at the first sign of illness. That's unwise, for the common-sense reasons you describe.

You'd do better to kick-start your immune system with zinc and echinacea. A convenient, widely-available and palatable form is "Airborne".

Note well that the 1918 flu pandemic occurred just as the wonder-drug aspirin had been introduced. I don't think that's an accident. It got people up and out sooner, encouraging the spread of viruses, and it damped down on their fevers, allowing the virus to more easily overwhelm their defenses.

And let's propose another First Rule Of Flu Pandemics: if you're sick, stay home!


9 posted on 05/01/2006 3:52:07 PM PDT by RightOnTheLeftCoast (You're it)
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