Final answer:
Antipyretic drugs, specifically acetaminophen and NSAIDs, are used to lower body temperature and alleviate fever. Acetaminophen has strong antipyretic and analgesic properties but is weakly anti-inflammatory, while NSAIDs also provide significant anti-inflammatory benefits.
Step-by-step explanation:
The drug category that would work against fevers is known as antipyretic drugs. These medications help in lowering body temperature and are often used to provide relief from fever. The most common over-the-counter (OTC) antipyretic drugs are acetaminophen and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
Acetaminophen is effective in providing relief from fever and pain. While it is well-known for its antipyretic and analgesic properties, it is weakly anti-inflammatory.
On the other hand, NSAIDs such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen provide fever reduction, pain relief, and they also have strong anti-inflammatory effects. Although aspirin-like drugs share therapeutic actions, there are differences in their activities due to variations in the sensitivity of enzymes in the target tissues.