The basic mechanisms of fever: considerations for therapy.

In response to threat, particularly the invasion of microorganisms, body temperature rises, a condition called fever. This occurs as phagocytic cells in the body are activated to secrete substances which generate a multitude of host defense responses. Evidence is presented that this response is likely adaptive for the individual and fever acts to synergistically support the responses. Implications for practice are that the attenuation of fever by clinical interventions could limit the defense mechanisms for the individual and a more effective therapeutic goal might be to keep body temperature within certain limits. Developing knowledge about the host defense response and fever mechanisms will suggest supportive therapeutic options for testing.