Final answer:
True, a moderate fever does increase the metabolic rate. As body temperature rises in response to infection, so does the metabolic rate, enhancing the body's capability to fight off pathogens and aid in recovery.
Step-by-step explanation:
Fever is a physiological mechanism that raises the body's temperature in response to infection. The metabolic rate, often measured as Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR), is the amount of energy expended by the body at rest. Fever can stimulate an increase in the BMR; for every 0.5°C rise in internal body temperature, BMR increases by approximately 7%. Consequently, a fever of around 4°C above the normal body temperature could result in a BMR increase of about 50%. This escalation in metabolic rate hastens chemical reactions within the body, aiding in the fight against infection. The body's thermoregulatory center, the hypothalamus, resets to induce the fever state, which contributes to the conservation of iron, deprives bacteria of nutrients, and increases the effectiveness of immune cells. Additionally, the elevated temperatures can directly inhibit or destroy pathogens. Thus, a moderate fever serves as a defense mechanism that boosts the body's metabolic processes to combat infection.