Why does appetite ‘die’ during fever? Know from the doctor the real scientific reason behind this and the best diet for recovery.

It is often seen that whenever a person has fever, he does not feel like eating or drinking anything. In common language it is called loss of appetite due to fever. Generally people consider it to be a simple symptom of weakness or illness, but according to doctors and health experts, loss of appetite during fever is actually a very well thought out scientific and defensive response of our body. Let us understand directly from the top doctors of Gurugram why this happens inside our body during fever and what should be eaten to protect the body from breakdown during this time.

‘Cytokine’ chemicals produced in the body are the real reason

Dr. Ravindra Gupta According to (Head of Department, Internal Medicine, CK Birla Hospital, Gurgaon), the main reason for fever is infection by any bacteria or virus in the body. When this infection spreads, to combat it, our immune system releases special types of proteins and chemicals in the body, which are cytokine (Cytokines).

This cytokine chemical is located in our brain. Hunger Center (the part that controls appetite) and blocks or suppresses it for some time. The body does this so that by saving the huge amount of energy spent in digestion of food, it can be completely used in killing and fighting the germs of infection.

Numbness of taste glands and effect on liver

Doctors also give some other important reasons behind loss of appetite:

• Pressure on Liver: Many times the infection has a direct impact on our liver, due to which the production of digestive enzymes reduces and appetite disappears.

• Occurrence of ability to taste and smell: Due to viral or bacterial infection, the taste buds of our tongue and the smelling cells of the nose stop working temporarily. The desire to eat also disappears due to the food appearing completely tasteless and bland.

• Physical Characteristics: Severe headache, body ache, nausea and sore throat accompanying fever also become obstacles in the way of eating.

Staying without eating is dangerous for health; Adopt small diets

Dr. R. R. Dutta (HOD, Department of Internal Medicine, Paras Health, Gurugram) cautions that even if you do not feel like eating anything during fever, at this time your body needs more calories and nutrition than normal days for recovery. If you remain hungry for a long time, the body’s immune system will become weak and the disease may drag on.

Therefore, instead of giving heavy food at one go, the patient should be given light and digestible food in small quantities every two-three hours (Small Frequent Meals). To prevent deficiency of water and minerals in the body, it is very important to consume adequate amount of liquid diet and protein.

What food will be most beneficial during fever days?

During fever, always eat such things which are not heavy on the stomach and provide immediate glucose and energy to the body:

• Thin Moong Dal Khichdi: It is rich in protein and the easiest food to digest.

• Dalia or Oats: It provides essential fibers and carbohydrates to the body.

• Vegetable or Chicken Soup: Hot soup provides relief to the throat and increases the amount of fluid in the body.

• Coconut Water and Electrolytes: It instantly hydrates the body and fulfills the deficiency of essential salts.

• Fresh Fruits: Eat fruits like banana, apple and papaya which are easily digested. (If there is no throat infection, you can also take fresh curd as per doctor’s advice).

Medical advice: If the patient continues to have high fever for several days, has no appetite at all, vomits continuously after eating anything or feels extreme weakness in the body, then without ignoring it, one should immediately contact the doctor in the nearest hospital.