Final answer:
A fever is caused by endogenous pyrogens released by white blood cells in response to infection, which reset the hypothalamus to increase body temperature, aiding the immune system in fighting off pathogens. Excessive fever can be life-threatening and result from superantigens stimulating an extreme immune response.
Step-by-step explanation:
The chemical attack that results in a fever as its end outcome is typically linked to the body's immune response to infection. When endogenous pyrogens are released by phagocytic leukocytes after they have destroyed bacteria, these chemicals travel to the hypothalamus, which acts as the body's 'thermostat,' and subsequently raise the set point for body temperature.
This leads to a fever, which serves as one of the body's defense mechanisms by creating an environment that is less hospitable for pathogens. Despite its benefits, a fever can sometimes become life-threatening, especially if caused by excessive activation of the immune system's cells and the release of cytokines, as seen in cases of toxic shock syndrome and scarlet fever induced by bacterial superantigens.