How do salicylates help to reduce fever?

Salicylates, like aspirin, help to reduce fever primarily by increasing blood flow to the skin, which aids in the process of heat dissipation. When the body temperature rises due to an infection or inflammation, salicylates act on the hypothalamus, which is the part of the brain that regulates body temperature. By promoting vasodilation, salicylates enhance the delivery of blood to the peripheral areas of the body, such as the skin, allowing heat to be lost more efficiently. This process can lead to sweating, which further contributes to lowering the body’s temperature.

While blocking pain receptors, decreasing metabolism, and inhibiting bacterial growth might have some relation to the actions of other medications or processes in the body, they do not directly relate to how salicylates effectively reduce fever. Instead, increasing blood flow and facilitating heat loss is the primary mechanism through which fever reduction occurs when salicylates are utilized.