Why do you sweat when your fever breaks?

Answer 1

First of all we should find an answer to why we get fever in the first place. One condition which causes fever or raised temperature is an infection disease process. It has been observed that deliberately raising body temperatures for example in saunas and steam baths causes an increase in white blood cells. White blood cells defend the body against invading organisms like bacteria and viruses. The normal core body temperature is 98.6 deg. F or 37 deg. C.

So perhaps when the body senses invasion by the immune system it sets its own core temperature above normal (fever) in order to effect an increase in the number of white cells which in turn fight the invading organisms. When the fight is won or appears to be won the body sets the temperature through the hypothalamus back to its normal (98.6 deg F) or (37.0 deg. C) temperature. In the process the hot fluid (sweat) - which is like the water in a car rediater has to come out of the body. When the hot water comes out it evaporates from the body surface and further cools the body surface.

Answer 2

When your fever breaks, your body temperature decreases as your immune system fights off the infection. Sweating is a natural response to cool down the body and maintain a stable temperature. It helps to regulate your body temperature during this process of fever reduction.