Hello! I am an emergency room nurse. I have a question regarding the treatment of low grade fevers in the setting of mild illnesses such as viral uris. We routinely treat fevers with Tylenol and nsaids that are less than 101 degrees. Considering that the fever is a mechanism to assist in the immune response would it beneficial to permit low grade fevers? Is it possible that treating low grade fever in this setting could prolong an illness or lead to the illness lasting longer?
JC,
There are a few reasons to treat fever:
- Reduce tachycardia, as the temperature pulse relationship tends to be linear at 4.4 BPM for each 1* celsius rise in temperature, save for conditions like TB, brucellosis, patients taking steroids, renal failure, etc.
- Reduce prostaglandin e2 and other immunosuppressants. When NSAIDs are given with the flu vaccine for example, antibody titers are much higher than without.
- Improve patient comfort
- No data showing that fever itself actually facilitates the recovery from infection.
I could go more in depth, but would see what you can find on the topic first 
-Jordan
Very interesting. Thanks for the response.
If my heart rate is 60 at temperature 37.0 (celsius), you would expect it to be 64.4 at 37.1 or at 38.0?
1 degree celsius means 37.0 to 38.0.