A 97-year-old patient is admitted to the medical unit with pneumonia.He was treated as an outpatient with oral antibiotics and was only admitted for intravenous antibiotics when his symptoms did not resolve.He has a productive cough and bilateral congestion and is complaining of weakness.His vital signs are 106/78,82,24,and a temperature of 97 degrees (oral).His granddaughter asks you,"Why isn't grandpa running a fever? He is so very sick." You answer her based on the knowledge that:
A) he is no longer febrile because his pneumonia is resolved.
B) in a 97-year-old,a temperature of 97 degrees is considered febrile.
C) a lack of fever cannot be used to rule out an infection in older adults.
D) oral temperatures are always inaccurate in older adults.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

An age-related change in older adults is temperature regulation.Because of this and a delayed immune response,a lack of fever cannot be used to rule out infection in older adults.There is evidence in the scenario that the pneumonia is not resolved,the patient's lungs are congested,and the patient is tachypneic (respiratory rate of 24).Although the old-old have lower body temperatures than younger adults,the range of normal temperature is from 95 to 97 degrees.Even though there may be some discrepancies between oral,tympanic,and basal temperatures in older adults,there is no evidence that oral temperatures are always inaccurate.

A 97-Year-Old Patient Is Admitted to the Medical Unit with Pneumonia.He