FEVER, CHILLS, NIGHT SWEATS: DESCRIPTION AND POSSIBLE MEDICAL PROBLEMS
Whenever a patient tells me he has a fever or chills, the first thing I need to know is if he is in the 40s or 50s or over the age of 80.
Because fever occurs less frequently as a person ages, a high fever in an elderly person is often an indication of a serious health problem. When an elderly person has a high fever, she may become delirious, which will increase her chance of falling and breaking a hip or even becoming unconscious.
A high fever may be caused by a simple virus, such as a bacterial infection in the sinuses, bowels, or lungs, or by a more serious infection in the bloodstream called sepsis.
My feeling is that if you have any fever that’s above 100 or 101 degrees F. for more than 24 hours, you should seek medical attention— sooner if confusion or delirium starts to set in.
If you have a fever, here are some questions to ask yourself that will help your doctor narrow down the cause:
1. Besides the fever, what other symptoms do I have, such as a cough, nasal stuffiness, muscular aches and pains, diarrhea, and/or pain when urinating?
2. How long have I had these symptoms: a day, a week, or longer?
3. Do I have night sweats or chills?
4. Is my fever getting better or worse? Is it accompanied by weakness and a general feeling of malaise?
If an elderly relative is feverish, ask yourself the following questions:
1. Has the weather been hot lately ? If so, does she have an air conditioner and does she use it?
2. Have you noticed any recent changes in his mental state? Has he become increasingly confused?
3. Have there been any changes in her appetite?
4. Has he been acting listless lately?
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