An 8-year-old boy has a severe sore throat, high fever, and cervical adenopathy. It is suspected that the causative agent is Streptococcus pyogenes. Before antibiotic therapy is initiated, the patient is given aspirin to reduce his fever. The mechanism of fever reduction by aspirin is:
A. Shivering
B. Stimulation of cyclooxygenase
C. Inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis
D. Shunting of blood from the surface of the skin
E. Increasing the hypothalamic set-point temperature