Fever reducers treat a symptom, not the cause of an illness, and lowering your temperature may get in the way of your body's normal defenses and actually prolong the sickness. Generally, a fever on its own isn't dangerous and there's no real need to treat it.

Do fevers have a purpose?

You get a fever because your body is trying to kill the virus or bacteria that caused the infection. Most of those bacteria and viruses do well when your body is at your normal temperature. But if you have a fever, it is harder for them to survive. Fever also activates your body's immune system.

Is a fever harmful or beneficial when should a fever be treated?

However, treatment of fever is based on the assumption that fever has a harmful effect and that reducing an elevated temperature will be beneficial. Available evidence does not provide a clear understanding as to whether fever impairs or enhances the host's immune response to infection.