Today I Learned (TIL)

6590 readers

1 users here now

You learn something new every day; what did you learn today?

/c/til is a community for any true knowledge that you would like to share, regardless of topic or of source.

Share your knowledge and experience!

Rules

Information must be true
Follow site rules
No, you don't have to have literally learned the fact today
Posts must be about something you learned

founded 2 years ago

MODERATORS

[email protected]

TIL about Willie Jones, who survived the highest human fever at 46.5 °C or 115.7 °F. (en.wikipedia.org)

submitted 4 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

15 comments fedilink hide all child comments

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[–] [email protected] 16 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Wikipedia link unrelated?

[–] mattd 5 points 4 months ago

It mentions it in the giant table. The citation takes you to a page where they mention it in passing

Normal body temperature can vary up to 2°F in a 24 hour period. According to the Guinness Book of World Records (New York: Bantam books, 2000, p. 263), the person with the highest body temperature who lived to tell about it is Willie Jones. On July 10, 1980, Mr. Jones was admitted to the hospital with heatstroke. His temperature was 115.7°F (46.5°C). After 24 days in the hospital, he was discharged. Body temperatures of 109°F can be fatal. (Statistic from Prevention's Giant Book of Health Facts, 1991.)