mikeber55 t1_jdyxorc wrote on March 28, 2023 at 5:17 AM

It really depends on age, body, health, etc. Long and uncontrolled fever can be harmful beyond discomfort. Older people, those suffering from chronic illnesses or babies should not be with high fever over long periods of time. It also matters if the fever lasts a day or two or weeks.

tiph12 OP t1_jdyy7sn wrote on March 28, 2023 at 5:23 AM

That's when the fever gets too high, I get that -- but does that mean as long s it's safely below 40°C (or the adequate threshold for elderly, infants, etc.), it is better to keep it going?

Arquen_Marille t1_jdyzo98 wrote on March 28, 2023 at 5:40 AM

The problem is that fevers can suddenly spike dangerously high with no warning, and there’s a limited amount of time to try to get it under control before there is harm to the brain. So it’s good to try to control the mechanisms that could cause that by taking medications that lower the temperature. Fevers are designed to try to kill infection, but it’s an imperfect biological response that could kill the person instead of help them. Especially in babies.

torama t1_jdzv3h3 wrote on March 28, 2023 at 12:24 PM

It is not like the body announces "yeah I am going to be a nice warm 38 degrees for afew hours now" It can spike and get really dangerous.

tiph12 OP t1_jdzv7hj wrote on March 28, 2023 at 12:25 PM

Wouldn't that be lovely though!