How to deal with influenza: Fever may be used as treatment

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Alan W Fowler (alan@awfowler.fsnet.co.uk), retired consultant orthopaedic surgeon

Bridgend CF31 1QJ

EDITOR—Because there is no specific treatment for influenza, Jefferson's editorial and the accompanying articles concentrate on vaccination and chemoprophylaxis.1 However, I plead for recognition that fever may be used as a non-specific treatment of flu. The fever is not just an unpleasant symptom of flu but a crucial part of the body's defence mechanism that should be encouraged.

Infectious organisms …