There are arguments for and against, and the issue is controversial<ref name=Schaffner>Schaffner A. Fever--useful or noxious symptom that should be treated? ''Ther Umsch'' 2006; '''63''': 185-8. PMID 16613288</ref><ref name=value>Soszynski D. The pathogenesis and the adaptive value of fever. ''Postepy Hig Med Dosw'' 2003; '''57''': 531-54. PMID 14737969</ref>. There are studies using [[warm blooded]] [[vertebrates]]<ref name=VUB>Su F, Nguyen ND, Wang Z, Cai Y, Rogiers P, Vincent JL. Fever control in septic shock: beneficial or harmful? ''Shock'' 2005; '''23''': 516-20. PMID 15897803</ref> and [[human]]s <ref name=humans>Schulman CI, Namias N, Doherty J, ''et al''. The effect of antipyretic therapy upon outcomes in critically ill patients: a randomized, prospective study. ''Surg Infect (Larchmt)'' 2005; '''6''':369-75. PMID 16433601</ref> ''[[in vivo]]'', with some suggesting that they recover more rapidly from infections or critical illness due to fever.
Theoretically, fever has been conserved during evolution because of its advantage for host defense<ref name=Schaffner>Schaffner A. Fever--useful or noxious symptom that should be treated? ''Ther Umsch'' 2006; '''63''': 185-8. PMID 16613288</ref>. There are certainly some important immunological reactions that are sped up by temperature, and some [[pathogen]]s with strict temperature preferences could be hindered<ref name=Fischler>Fischler MP, Reinhart WH. Fever: friend or enemy? ''Schweiz Med Wochenschr'' 1997; '''127''': 864-70. PMID 9289813</ref>. The overall conclusion seems to be that both aggressive treatment of fever<ref name=humans>Schulman CI, Namias N, Doherty J, ''et al''. The effect of antipyretic therapy upon outcomes in critically ill patients: a randomized, prospective study. ''Surg Infect (Larchmt)'' 2005; '''6''':369-75. PMID 16433601</ref> and too little fever control<ref name=Schaffner>Schaffner A. Fever--useful or noxious symptom that should be treated? ''Ther Umsch'' 2006; '''63''': 185-8. PMID 16613288</ref> can be detrimental. This depends on the clinical situation, so careful assessment is needed.
