Immunity 1.pdf

 Fever - Pyrexia Pyrexia = body temperature above the normal range Hypothalamus in the brain is responsible for setting the temperature of the body “set-point” In disease, pyrogens (type of cytokine) produced by the leucocytes Pyrogens will cause the hy...

 Fever - Pyrexia Pyrexia = body temperature above the normal range Hypothalamus in the brain is responsible for setting the temperature of the body “set-point” In disease, pyrogens (type of cytokine) produced by the leucocytes Pyrogens will cause the hypothalamus to increase the set-point of the body Why does the body do this? ⚬ High temperatures inhibit the release of iron and zinc from liver and spleen needed by bacteria ⚬ Slows down the infection Fever also increases the speed of tissue repair