What is the function of a fever

Question

anonymous · Answer

Fevers are one of our immune system's defense mechanisms. 

Our bodies heat up, when we have germs that don't belong inside of our bodies. 

The heat is supposed to destroy the pathogens (germs).

abb0t · Answer

increasing in body temp increases the amount of oxygen the blood is capable of carrying. This is because the white blood cells use the oxygen to produce chemicals that kill the bacteria.
However, it is possible for the body to overreact to the stimulus due to the high heat build up and is possible to turn your brain into a potato with cheese, and turn your gonads into popcorn. For this reason, high temperatures (I think anything greater than 40C) should be treated with some type of acetaminophen only, and not with aspirin. This desensitises the brain to the cytokines responsible, and the brain brings the bodies temperature back to normal.