A 97-year-old patient is admitted to the medical unit with a productive cough and bi-lateral congestion and is reporting weakness. His vital signs are 106/78, 82, 24, and a temperature of 97 degrees F. (oral). When told that it is suspected that he has pn
a. the temperature needs to be taken tympanically
b. in a 97-year-old, a temperature of 97 degrees F. 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
ANS: C
An age-related change in older adults is temperature regulation. Because of this and a de-layed immune response, a lack of fever cannot be used to rule out infection in older adults. 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 or in this case less preferred than the tympanic.
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