Will staying awake all night with a 38.5°C fever cause brain damage?
Sep 16, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Yang Ziqi
Introduction
Under normal circumstances, whether staying awake all night with a fever of 38.5°C will cause harm depends on the individual. Healthy adults generally will not suffer severe damage as a result. However, if the individual is an infant, young child, or someone with underlying medical conditions, the risk to health may increase, and more cautious management is required. When experiencing a fever during daily life, it is recommended to manage the situation according to the specific needs of the individual: adults can use warm water擦拭 (sponge baths) and drink more warm water to assist in reducing body temperature.
Generally speaking, whether staying up all night with a fever of 38.5°C will cause harm depends on the individual. Healthy adults typically won't suffer serious damage, but for infants, young children, or individuals with underlying medical conditions, it may increase health risks and should be handled more cautiously. Detailed analysis is as follows:
For healthy adults, a temperature of 38.5°C is considered moderate fever, and the body generally has a certain capacity for self-regulation. Staying awake one night usually won't damage the brain or organs. During this time, symptoms like fatigue or headache may occur, but if the person's mental state remains relatively good, physical cooling methods can temporarily relieve symptoms, with further management arranged the following day.
For infants and young children, especially those under three years old, the body's temperature regulation center is not yet fully developed. Staying up all night with a fever of 38.5°C may lead to excessive exhaustion and potentially trigger complications such as febrile seizures. For individuals with pre-existing medical conditions, persistent fever may worsen their original illness and increase the risk of complications. In such cases, it is not advisable to endure the fever without intervention.
When experiencing a fever in daily life, it is recommended to manage it according to individual differences: adults can use methods such as wiping the body with warm water and drinking more warm water to assist in cooling down. Infants, young children, and patients with chronic illnesses should take active steps to reduce their temperature when it reaches 38.5°C.
