The role of fever in the infected host

Sepsis is a highly lethal clinical syndrome characterized by a systemic inf lammatory response to infection. Fever, a non-specific acute-phase response , has been associated with improved survival and shortened disease duration in non-life-threatening infections. However, the influence of fever and th e effects of antipyresis in patients with sepsis has not been prospectively studied in humans. This payer reviews the state of our knowledge concernin g the biological effects of fever in infected hosts and the influence of fe ver and antipyretic therapy on survival during sepsis in experimental model s and in man. (C) 2000 Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.