Hi /sci/. So I'm running a decent fever today and was wondering about the function of fevers as a hostile environment to various pathogens, as well as a buff for your immune system's Macrophages among other things. I was wondering if anti-fever medications (called anti-pyretics) are actually counter-productive towards the goal of eliminating a given infection.

If the fever itself is a powerful tool in the immune system's arsenal to fight infection wouldn't you be extending your time spent in sickness at the benefit of reducing painful symptoms? I was imagining that if you wanted to speed up your recovery that it would theoretically be beneficial to grit your teeth through a fever instead of using OTC medications like Ibuprofen or Acetaminophen. Any thoughts on this theory? Exposition?