PARENT CARE: FEVER, MYTHS ABOUT

MYTH: All fevers are bad for children.
FACT: Fevers turn on the body's immune system.
Fevers are one of the body's protective mechanisms.
Most fevers are good for children and help the body fight infection.

MYTH: Fevers cause brain damage or fevers above 104°F (40°C) are dangerous.
FACT: Fevers with infections don't cause brain damage. Only body temperatures above 108°F (42.2°C) can cause brain damage. Fevers only go this high with high environmental temperatures (e.g., confined to a closed car).

MYTH: Anyone can have a febrile seizure.
FACT: Only 4% of children can have a febrile seizure.

MYTH: Febrile seizures are harmful.
FACT: Febrile seizures are scary to watch, but they usually stop within 5 minutes. They cause no permanent harm.

MYTH: All fevers need to be treated with fever medicine.
FACT: Fevers only need to be treated if they cause discomfort. Usually fevers don't cause any discomfort until they go above 102° or 103°F (39° or 39.5°C).

MYTH: Without treatment, fevers will keep going higher.
FACT: Wrong. Fevers from infection top out at 105° or 106°F (40.6° or 41.1°C), due to a thermostat in the brain.

MYTH: With treatment, fevers should come down to normal.
FACT: With treatment, fevers usually come down 2° or 3°F (1° or 1.5°C).

MYTH: If the fever doesn't come down (if you can't "break the fever"), the cause is serious.
FACT: Fevers that don't respond to fever medicine can be caused by viruses or bacteria. It doesn't relate to the seriousness of the infection.

MYTH: If the fever is high, the cause is serious.
FACT: If your child looks very sick, the cause is serious.

MYTH: The exact number of the temperature is very important.
FACT: How your child looks is what's important.

MYTH: Oral temperatures 98.7° to 100°F (37.1° to 37.8°C) are low-grade fevers.
FACT: Oral temperatures 98.7° to 100°F (37.1° to 37.8°C) are normal temperature variations--often peaking in the late afternoon and evening. For rectal temperatures, normal elevations are 99.5° to 100.3°F (37.5° to 37.9°C).

Disclaimer: This information is not intended be a substitute for professional medical advice. It is provided for educational purposes only. You assume full responsibility for how you choose to use this information.

Reviewed 8/2004

Revised 7/2002

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