Prostaglandins are known to mediate pain and fever, two common symptoms of many infectious and inflammatory diseases. They sensitize nerve endings to pain and act on the hypothalamus to elevate body temperature. Understanding these mechanisms is essential for the epidemiological study of diseases that present with these symptoms. For instance, the inhibition of COX-2 to reduce prostaglandin production is a primary mechanism by which nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) alleviate pain and fever.
