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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. Pediatric HouseCall Online. Copyright © 2000-2003 Barton Schmitt, M.D.FAAP Reviewed 8/2003 Revised 7/2002 View Alphabetical Categories List  Lucile Packard Children's Hospital is located in Palo Alto, adjacent to Stanford University Hospital, approximately 20 miles north of San Jose, CA and 40 miles south of San Francisco.
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