Inflamation is the response of the immune system to chemical signals sent by the cells of damaged tissue. Depending on the affected organ, the consequences are

Inflamation is the response of the immune system to chemical signals sent by the cells of damaged tissue. Depending on the affected organ, the consequences are different. However, the mechanism at the cellular level is mostly identical. Inflamed tissue releases messengers in the blood stream that can be detected (e.g. CRP, orosomucoid, etc...). The process is generally beneficial (helps fight a threat) but it can be triggered by false positives, and the activation of the immune system can dammage healthy tissue. Too much inflammation as a reaction to a real threat can also be problematic, hence the various anti-inflamatory treatments (NSAID/corticosteroids). In this case, prossibly nocive inflammation was discovered in the hypothalamus, the part of the brain that regulates appetite among many other vegetative functions.