Fever has tradeoffs: it kills most pathogens but it also does small amounts of permanent damage to brain, nerve, lung and marrow tissue. Far better to eradicate the pathogens before they enter the body, wherever that strategy is feasible to carry out.

Source required for "permanent damage to brain, etc."

The only mention I see is at the end: > Sustained body temperatures of 106 degrees Fahrenheit or above can cause brain damage.

My only thought is that this should be painfully obvious. Of course extreme fevers can cause damage to the body and brain.

I thought we were talking about the typical case of fever.

Since when?

Allergies can also trigger fevers and I don't think that dust my body is busy fighting is getting more dead than it already is.

the recommendation is for fevers during infections

I rarely take Tylenol or any over the counters…if I get a fever I ride it out and I feel much better the next day.

Good book that talks about the bodies evolutionary responses is “Why we Get Sick”

The article is making the point that in the time before the COVID vaccine, we should stop providing Tylenol or Advil to patients as the fever is the body’s response designed to kill infections.

My 5-year old has had a 102 feverfor 4 days this week and every time we give him something I wonder if we are extending the length of his sickness, but he is too cute to let him be in pain.

Next time I get sick, I will try to ride it out and see if my typical 3-5 sickness is shorter.

2020