Fever In The Elderly

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Contents 1 Introduction 2 More General Terms 3 Additional Terms 4 References

Introduction

• Baseline temperature is generally lower in elderly patients.

• Thus often elderly patients with fever do not meet criteria for fever in younger patients.
• Some definitions for elderly patients include:

• an increase in temperature of 2 degrees F above baseline
• oral temperature above 99 degrees F
• rectal temperature above 99.5 degrees F

• Fever may be absent in as many as 50% of elderly with serious infection [2].

More General Terms

• geriatrics
• fever

Additional Terms

• infections in the elderly

References

1. Norman D. In: Intensive Course in Geriatric Medicine & Board Review, Marina Del Ray, CA, Sept 12-15, 2001
2. High KP et al, Clinical practice guidelines for the evaluation of fever and infection in older adult residents of long-term care facilities: 2008 update by the Infectious Disease Society of America. Clin Infect Dis 2009, 48:149 PMID: [1]
3. National Guideline Clearinghouse Clinical practice guideline for the evaluation of fever and infection in older adult residents of long-term care facilities: 2008 update by the Infectious Diseases Society of America. ngc-guideline: [2]

fever in the elderly