why do people die from fevers above 105-106?

Answer 1

You don't die from temps of 105-106, they may cause brain damage though. Death by pure temp doesn't occur untill 110-112.

Answer 2

The brain cooks itself. High fevers in small children are not that abnormal, they may cause a seizure. Childrens hypothalmus which controls temp is not very developed thus they can run high temps that usually respond easily to tylenol and such. Plus it can be a very simple illness like an ear infection that is causing the temp. In adults, the hypothalmus is developed and temps can lead to death ie; heat stroke. , a major infecton that causes multiple organs to shut down like the kidneys, liver, heart. Also high emps in adults generally mean a very serious infection that may not respond to antibiotics and cause the pt. to go into shock leading to organ failure.