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What Causes a Fever?
- panabee 4y agoGoogle and ChatGPT were unhelpful in explaining the root biophysical/biochemical mechanisms for how the body generates heat during a fever. Most relevant paragraph from this article: The hypothalamus, which sits at the base of the brain, acts as the body's thermostat. It is triggered by floating biochemical substances called pyrogens, which flow from sites where the immune system has identified potential trouble to the hypothalamus via the bloodstream. Some pyrogens are produced by body tissue; many pathogens also produce pyrogens. When the hypothalamus detects them, it tells the body to generate and retain more heat, thus producing a fever. Children typically get higher and quicker fevers, reflecting the effects of the pyrogens upon an inexperienced immune system.