Anti-Fever Drugs May Prolong Flu

The use of anti-fever drugs such as aspirin and acetaminophen may
prolong influenza A and possibly other viral infections, according to
researchers at the University of Maryland schools of medicine and
pharmacy.

In a series of vaccine studies conducted between 1978 and 1987 at the
University's Center for Vaccine Development:

54 volunteers were injected with Influenza A
45 with S. sonnei
21 with R. rickettsii
During these studies, some of the subjects were given aspirin or
acetaminophen (paracetamol) for relief of symptoms such as fever.

The current study compared the duration of illness in those who
received the medication with those who did not and found that flu
sufferers who took one of the anti-fever medications were sick an
average of 3.5 days longer than people who did not take either of the
drugs.

On average, flu symptoms lasted 5.3 days in participants who did not
take aspirin or acetaminophen, compared with 8.8 days in people who
took the anti-fever drugs.

"The analysis suggests that anti-fever therapy prolonged illness in
subjects infected with Influenza A, but not shigellosis or Rocky
Mountain spotted fever," says Philip A. Mackowiak, MD, one of the
study's principal investigators and chief of the Medical Care Clinical
Center, V.A. Maryland Health Care System and professor at the School
of Medicine.

"Our research suggests that fever may have different roles in the
resolution of bacterial and viral infections," says Karen I.
Plaisance, PharmD, associate professor at the School of Pharmacy, the
study's other lead investigator.

In comments to Reuters Health, Dr. Plaisance noted that similar
findings have been reported in studies of chickenpox.

She also noted that the findings are based on studies conducted in the
past, but that they hope to conduct studies in the future in which
people with flu symptoms are randomly assigned to receive anti-fever
medication or an inactive placebo.

"The good news is that anti-fever drugs make people feel better when
they have infections. The bad news is that they may cause the illness
to linger longer," says Dr. Mackowiak, adding that people "should be
aware that anti-fever drugs have a modest cost associated with relief
and that cost is that they may be sick longer."

Pharmacotherapy, December 2000; 20: 1417-1422

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Dr. Mercola's Comments:

It is amazing to me that so little research has been done into the
most basic of all physiological responses to infect - the fever.

It is so obvious to anyone not enamored of the pharmaceutical paradigm
that this is one of the body's basic defense mechanisms and should not
usually be suppressed. Fever is not an illness to be gotten ridden of
by popping a pill. It is a symptom of infection, but not a useless
one.

This is a very important topic and I hope to have more articles on
this topic next week. Also, be sure to read "Fever in Children - A
Blessing in Disguise" in this week's newsletter.

Related Articles:

Fever in Children - a Blessing in Disguise

Sponging, Fans Do Little To Bring Down Fever

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