In a message dated 1/30/06 10:38:53 A.M. Pacific Standard Time,
[email protected] writes:
I have heard of high fevers damaging the brain. Does anyone have reliable
information on this subject?
Jill
High Fevers, Brain Damage and Febrile Seizures
Many _parents_ (http://www.drgreene.com/54_15.html) fear that fevers will
cause brain damage. Brain damage from a _fever_
(http://www.drgreene.com/21_832.html) will not occur unless the fever is over
107.6 degrees F (42C) for an
extended period of time. Many also fear that untreated fevers will keep going
higher and higher, up to 107 degrees F or even more. Untreated fevers caused
by _infection_ (http://www.drgreene.com/21_527.html) will seldom go over 105
degrees unless the child is overdressed, or trapped in a hot place. The
brain's thermostat will stop the fever from climbing above 106 degrees F.
Some parents fear that fevers will cause _seizures_
(http://www.drgreene.com/21_548.html) . For the great majority of children
this is not the case. About
4% of children, though, will sometimes have seizures with fever. These
_febrile seizures_ (http://www.drgreene.com/21_1087.html) are caused by rapid
increase in temperature, not by the height of the temperature. Once a child
already has a high fever, a febrile seizure is unlikely with the current
illness.
In any event, febrile seizures are over in moments with no lasting
consequences. Treating fevers early in these children may prevent further
febrile
seizures.
Alan Greene MD FAAP
(http://www.drgreene.org/body.cfm?id=21&action=sendtofriend&ref=349) June
19, 2001
