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InfernalOrgasm t1_iuhwg5o wrote

Reply to comment by FiveDaysOfPoop in What is the actual mechanism by which the body generates a fever? by Pheophyting

Our immune system is a bit outdated. Typically, we can treat the ailment better ourselves with proper medications and procedures. Back when our immune system developed, we didn't have any of these things. A fever damages your body, your brain, and your immune system wreaks a lot of collateral damage. In our early stages of life, a little collateral damage is better than dead. Nowadays, we don't need that collateral damage because we can just treat it ourselves.

Our immune systems are not perfect, but it's better than nothing.

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0range_julius t1_iui7z6k wrote

>Typically, we can treat the ailment better ourselves with proper medications and procedures.

What? I object to this immune system slander. We've invented some great medicines, sure. But first off, your immune system is constantly watching out for infections and cancer and kills them before they get out of hand enough for you to even notice them. There's no way you could replace that.

When things do get out of control, we have medicine to help us out, but most of them won't just fix you by themselves, they work in tandem with your immune system. That's why people whose immune systems are wiped out are basically dead men walking. Not to mention the constant arms race with antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

The immune system isn't perfect (I'm well-aware, I have allergies and an autoimmune disease), but it's incredibly sophisticated, to the point that we still don't completely understand it, and our medical technology hasn't gotten close to making it obsolete.

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InfernalOrgasm t1_iui8imv wrote

I don't really disagree; it is an incredibly complex, useful, and absolutely necessary system. But with the use of medications, we can prevent a whole host of side effects from the immune system. Why wouldn't you if you could? I don't recall ever saying any of the things you're implying I've said.

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relom t1_iuhz79f wrote

Is that colateral damage only for high fevers or would a 38° fever do some colateral damage?

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InfernalOrgasm t1_iuhzrcc wrote

Mostly high level fevers; but our bodies maintain a "body temperature" for optimal performance for a reason. Low grade fevers are not much to worry about.

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