Background: White blood cells also make chemicals that cause a fever. A fever is a higher-than-normal body temperature. Normal human body temperature is 98.6°F (37°C). Most bacteria and viruses that infect people reproduce fastest at this temperature. When the temperature is higher, the pathogens cannot reproduce as fast, so the body raises the temperature to kill them. A fever also causes the immune system to make more white blood cells. In these ways, a fever helps the body fight infection.

Situation: Stephanie is a nurse at the local high school. Recently, the flu has been going around and she has had many students come into her office feeling ill. When a student comes in, the first thing she does is check their temperature to test for a fever.

Question: If Stephanie checks a student's temperature and it is above 98.6 is the student's body making a normal amount of white blood cells or extra white blood cells?
Answer: extra

Situation: Stephanie is a nurse at the local high school. Recently, the flu has been going around and she has had many students come into her office feeling ill. When a student comes in, the first thing she does is check their temperature to test for a fever.

Question: If Stephanie checks a student's temperature and it is at 98.6 is the student's body making a normal amount of white blood cells or extra white blood cells?
Answer: normal

Situation: Stephanie is a nurse at the local high school. Recently, the flu has been going around and she has had many students come into her office feeling ill. When a student comes in, the first thing she does is check their temperature to test for a fever.

Question: If a student's body is fighting infection will their body temperature be normal or high?
Answer: high

Situation: Stephanie is a nurse at the local high school. Recently, the flu has been going around and she has had many students come into her office feeling ill. When a student comes in, the first thing she does is check their temperature to test for a fever.

Question: If a student's body is not fighting infection will their body temperature be normal or high?
Answer: normal

Situation: Stephanie is a nurse at the local high school. Recently, the flu has been going around and she has had many students come into her office feeling ill. When a student comes in, the first thing she does is check their temperature to test for a fever.

Question: If a student has a fever are they healthy or do they have a virus or infection?
Answer: they have a virus or infection

Situation: Stephanie is a nurse at the local high school. Recently, the flu has been going around and she has had many students come into her office feeling ill. When a student comes in, the first thing she does is check their temperature to test for a fever.

Question: If a student does not have a fever are they healthy or do they have a virus or infection?
Answer: healthy

Situation: Stephanie is a nurse at the local high school. Recently, the flu has been going around and she has had many students come into her office feeling ill. When a student comes in, the first thing she does is check their temperature to test for a fever.       
                                                  A research facility is testing the immune response of patients with immune deficiency who are infected with a virus. Some of the patients are given a trial of a new medication that is supposed to increase their immune system's response to illness while others are in the control group.

Question: If a patient with the virus does not have a fever is their body's immune system making more or less white blood cells than a patient with a fever?
Answer: less

Situation: Stephanie is a nurse at the local high school. Recently, the flu has been going around and she has had many students come into her office feeling ill. When a student comes in, the first thing she does is check their temperature to test for a fever.       
                                                  A research facility is testing the immune response of patients with immune deficiency who are infected with a virus. Some of the patients are given a trial of a new medication that is supposed to increase their immune system's response to illness while others are in the control group.

Question: If a patient with the virus has a fever is their body's immune system making more or less white blood cells than a patient without a fever?
Answer: more

Situation: Stephanie is a nurse at the local high school. Recently, the flu has been going around and she has had many students come into her office feeling ill. When a student comes in, the first thing she does is check their temperature to test for a fever.       
                                                  A research facility is testing the immune response of patients with immune deficiency who are infected with a virus. Some of the patients are given a trial of a new medication that is supposed to increase their immune system's response to illness while others are in the control group.

Question: If a patient taking the medication has a higher white blood cell count than a patient in the control group is their body temperature higher or lower?
Answer: higher

Situation: Stephanie is a nurse at the local high school. Recently, the flu has been going around and she has had many students come into her office feeling ill. When a student comes in, the first thing she does is check their temperature to test for a fever.       
                                                  A research facility is testing the immune response of patients with immune deficiency who are infected with a virus. Some of the patients are given a trial of a new medication that is supposed to increase their immune system's response to illness while others are in the control group.

Question: If a patient taking the medication has a lower white blood cell count than a patient in the control group is their body temperature higher or lower?
Answer: lower