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If a fever is working to kill an infection why take a fever reducer?

Duecy - 2009-10-21 20:06:57 - Other - Diseases

Wouldn't a virus go away faster if you let your fever linger instead of taking a fever reducer because the fever works to kill the virus? Is taking a fever reducer better than not taking one with a high fever?

Best Answer:

Because Mr. Tylenol needs a new Mercedes. Fevers CAN be dangerous. If they are too high or too high for too long they can cause seizures, brain damage, coma and death. However a fever is an immune response and as long as it's not high enough to pose a danger itself, I usually just let them run their course. I had a fever of 103.7F as an adult once. Most adults cannot tolerate this and should not try to. I felt fine. Actually I felt great so maybe I was somewhat delusional, but had someone looking after me at the time and they eventually got it down.

Answers:

Because Mr. Tylenol needs a new Mercedes. Fevers CAN be dangerous. If they are too high or too high for too long they can cause seizures, brain damage, coma and death. However a fever is an immune response and as long as it's not high enough to pose a danger itself, I usually just let them run their course. I had a fever of 103.7F as an adult once. Most adults cannot tolerate this and should not try to. I felt fine. Actually I felt great so maybe I was somewhat delusional, but had someone looking after me at the time and they eventually got it down.