Disclaimer: This blog is written based on our study that has not been accepted by the mainstream yet. It is not intended to replace the advice and consultation with a medical doctor. We invite you to examine the study and discuss it with your doctor before doing anything with it. We claim no financial interest for the potential benefit of the information and assume no responsibility for any adverse results due to improper use of the information.

Would you rather get rid of your fever or your flu?

I know you want to keep NEITHER.

If you or your child should ever spike a fever, getting that temperature down is as easy as taking a few over the counter drugs.

But wait!

Do you know the consequence of removing a fever?

Delayed recovery from the flu.

To explain it better, we should know how our immune system works.  Our study that led to the development of AllerPops provides a good explanation for this purpose.

You may read the article at this link: https://allerpops.com/oral-probiotic-deficiency-may-cause-common-allergies/.

Our immune system is like a car with an accelerator to speed it up and brakes to slow it down. Pathogens stimulate the immune system so it can protect us from diseases and probiotics (friendly bacteria) slow it down when there is no infection. Like the car, our immune system is designed to be parked most of the time by the brake — our probiotics.

Our immune system exists mostly surrounding the guts (70%), airway (25%), and under our skin. Different probiotics live in these biological niches and send signals to pacify our immune system. The peace agreement between probiotics and the immune system is the foundation for us to live peacefully in the environment.

Severe infections, such as flu, usually produce pyrogen, a substance that causes the body temperature to increase.

The increase in temperature is a good thing. The optimal growth temperature for the probiotics in the upper airway is between 85-98°F. Our normal body temperature is at the upper end of the optimal range. The increased body temperature inhibits the probiotics and thus removes the brake to the immune system.

Without the brake, our immune system will begin to fight hard against pathogens, such as the flu virus.

What happens if you remove the fever with a pill?

Now the probiotics in the airway will grow back and send a signal of peace to the immune system while the enemies are still there.

The immune system will be confused and work halfheartedly, which will make the flu last even longer.

If your fever is not too high, keep it. It is helping you fight your flu or other airway infections.

When is a fever too high?

That is different from person to person.

For most healthy people, 104°F is a safe boundary. You should try to bring down a fever above 104°F.

Instead of using pills, I recommend reducing a high fever with physical measures like wearing lightweight clothes, applying warm/cool water repeatedly onto palms, limbs, and forehead. Alcohol can be used in place of water if the fever is difficult to control. Stop these procedures when the temperature is below 104°F.

One reason that most people take pills to bring their fever down is that they think that if they don’t have a fever, they can go back to work or school. But you’ll still be passing the infection on to others!

I seriously suggest you keep your fever, take the time you need to fight the infection, and then take an extra day for your body to recover afterward as well.

Going out (exposure to environmental allergens) while your immune system is fighting may increase your chance to develop allergies.

Take a break indeed when your body needs it.

These blogs reflect the personal opinions of the authors and should not be used as medical advice. We recommend you discuss the suggestions in the blogs with your doctor before practicing them.