# Will I get better quicker if I let my fever run it's course? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 16, 2005, 8:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-i-get-better-quicker-if-i-let-my-fever-run-its-course/285011 "2005-01-16T08:58:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-i-get-better-quicker-if-i-let-my-fever-run-its-course/285011/21 "2005-01-17T17:54:23Z")
> [@kinoons](#): > > a quick search found two articles that may support this… > [Pfizer Is Calling the Shots to Jab Kids](http://www.mercola.com/2000/dec/17/fever_flu.htm) Interesting, but I’m not real impressed. A very small study conducted episodically over 10 years. I would agree it’d be nice to see more studies of this type, though. > [@](#): > > [http://www.mercola.com/2000/dec/17/fever.htm](http://www.mercola.com/2000/dec/17/fever.htm) It doesn’t seem to be a study, but an opinion statement by the authors. They make good points, but don’t advance science. And they tend to agree with the general sentiment of “use antifever meds if symptom relief is needed” which I think is the smart way to go anyway. Thanks for providing some objective data to the debate, **kinoons**. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-i-get-better-quicker-if-i-let-my-fever-run-its-course/285011/22 "2005-01-17T18:03:17Z")
I neglected to express my appreciation to the estimable **Qadgop** for his review of non-prescription analgesics/fever reducers. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-i-get-better-quicker-if-i-let-my-fever-run-its-course/285011/23 "2005-01-17T18:14:01Z")
I just wanted to add something my doctor always tells me - I hope **Qadgop** doesn’t take me to task for it. Take anti-fever, anti-pain, etc medication to feel more comfortable so you can rest. Do NOT take them so you can get up and do things you wouldn’t do if you didn’t take them. Don’t slather yourself with OTC medications and then go into work - you’ll only prolong whatever illness you have. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-i-get-better-quicker-if-i-let-my-fever-run-its-course/285011/24 "2005-01-17T18:19:47Z")
> [@Polycarp](#): > > I neglected to express my appreciation to the estimable **Qadgop** for his review of non-prescription analgesics/fever reducers. Thanks! You’re welcome. Now haul ashes over to [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=297221) and give me some insight, ok? 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-i-get-better-quicker-if-i-let-my-fever-run-its-course/285011/25 "2005-01-17T18:22:19Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > Don’t slather yourself with OTC medications and then go into work - you’ll only prolong whatever illness you have. Maybe, maybe not. But rest is good. I like rest. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-i-get-better-quicker-if-i-let-my-fever-run-its-course/285011/26 "2005-01-17T20:55:13Z")
> [@jester21](#): > > of course, when yer fever hits 104 you get some really cool hallucinations 😃 Fever hallucinations are highly overrated, IMO. A really high fever like that is quite uncomfortable. Besides which, it’s hard to remember just where the toilet is and how to use it. Yes, I speak from experience. Now I take a fever reducer and try to rest when it hits. ---
**Author:** ![kinoons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a698b9/32.png) [@kinoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kinoons)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-i-get-better-quicker-if-i-let-my-fever-run-its-course/285011/27 "2005-01-18T00:49:25Z")
ya know I hate articles that do not offer references, but here ya go… [http://www.cpmc.org/services/ihh/hhc/news/coldflu.html](http://www.cpmc.org/services/ihh/hhc/news/coldflu.html) even ends with links were to buy stuff…yeah thats great unbiased medicine… [http://www.consumerreports.org/main/detailv4.jsp?CONTENT\<\>cnt\_id=500365&FOLDER\<\>folder\_id=162687&ASSORTMENT\<\>ast\_id=333141](http://www.consumerreports.org/main/detailv4.jsp?CONTENT%3C%3Ecnt_id=500365&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=162687&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=333141) Thanks consumer reports…dont tell us where you actaully got any of this information… This article offeres references at the end…some I have found, others are super old, and his tone just seems to rub me wrong…dunno what to say about that. [http://www.whale.to/a/west8.html#References:](http://www.whale.to/a/west8.html#References:) again the ususal disclaimer about not being able to do a great job researching the references, just what I was able to find. ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-i-get-better-quicker-if-i-let-my-fever-run-its-course/285011/28 "2005-01-18T05:37:25Z")
> [@Qadgop the Mercotan](#): > > Mom was wrong, unless your fever was edging into seizure territory. I only worry about a fever (after I’ve examined the person) if it goes up over 104 and doesn’t respond to fever-reducing medications. I would add, that[febrile seizures](http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/febrile_seizures/detail_febrile_seizures.htm) are confined to children. They are caused by a rapid rise in temperature not the degree of fever. High temps in adults (over 104?F) that don’t respond to [antipyretics](http://www.medicinenet.com/analgesics_antipyretics/article.htm) need to be addressed by a healthcare provider. Brain cells begin to die at about 105?F. I’m sure that, like most bodily functions, it will vary among individuals. ---
**Author:** ![kinoons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a698b9/32.png) [@kinoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kinoons)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 9:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-i-get-better-quicker-if-i-let-my-fever-run-its-course/285011/29 "2005-01-18T09:39:04Z")
not to hijack too far, but im curious…we were taught in medic school its not the severity of the fever (how high) but the speed of the fever that causes seizures. (ie, better to get to 103 slowly than to 101 fast) this true? ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2005, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-i-get-better-quicker-if-i-let-my-fever-run-its-course/285011/30 "2005-01-19T00:23:04Z")
> [@kinoons](#): > > not to hijack too far, but im curious…we were taught in medic school its not the severity of the fever (how high) but the speed of the fever that causes seizures. (ie, better to get to 103 slowly than to 101 fast) this true? See previous post 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![kinoons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a698b9/32.png) [@kinoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kinoons)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2005, 9:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-i-get-better-quicker-if-i-let-my-fever-run-its-course/285011/31 "2005-01-19T09:37:57Z")
> [@picunurse](#): > > See previous post 🙂 ah, thanks…reading the dope on a 2" screen at work isn’t near as nice as the 21" screen at home…its amazing what that 19" can buy you in understanding… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-i-get-better-quicker-if-i-let-my-fever-run-its-course/285011.md?page=1)