The question of why fever is dangerous is so wrongly posed – fever is not necessarily dangerous, but only when it gets too high.
Why fever is dangerous: When the body is overwhelmed
Basically, fever is not dangerous, but a completely normal and healthy reaction of our body. Through fever, the body tries to prevent pathogens from growing and multiplying and thus get rid of them more quickly. Fever is therefore an important part of the body's immune system.
- Only when the fever exceeds Temperatures of 41 degrees Celsius rises, it will dangerousThis is because the exchange of substances between body tissue and blood becomes unbalanced.
- The walls of the blood vessels become more permeable when the 41-degree threshold is reached. This causes fluid from the blood to leak into the tissue – for example into the brain, which can lead to the formation of edema.
- Especially when fever lasts longer (two or three days), there is another danger besides reaching the physical limits of the human organism: the body loses too much fluid (dehydration).
- If there is already a pre-existing condition or weakness, for example due to cardiovascular disease, the body may reach its limits more quickly when it has a fever. But fever can also become dangerous more quickly for small children, babies and the elderly. For these people, the fever threshold can be considered dangerous at 39 degrees.
- In children, fever can lead to febrile seizures, which are usually harmless but can still be frightening for parents and require medical attention. However, medical professionals should also be called in for all groups of people at risk and otherwise from 39 to 40 degrees.
- Mild to moderate fevers often do not require medical treatment, while high fevers or persistent symptoms require medical consultation. When you have a fever, it is important to drink plenty of fluids and give your body rest to support your immune response and avoid dehydration.
- Fever is often a symptom of an underlying disease. Treatment depends on the cause and not just on lowering the body temperature.