Which statement about fever in the elderly is true?

Which statement about fever in the elderly is true?

• A. Fever threshold is the same as younger adults
• B. Elderly tend to have lower baseline temperatures; 100.2 F is febrile
• C. Fever cannot be detected in the elderly
• D. Normal temperature is 102 F for elderly

Answer: (B)

Elderly often have lower baseline body temperatures, so what counts as fever is lower than in younger adults. This happens because aging alters thermoregulation and metabolic responses, and the immune system often mounts a less robust fever. As a result, a temperature like 100.2°F can reflect fever in an older adult, even though it would be considered a low-grade fever or normal in younger people. In practice, an elderly patient may also show fever with only a small rise above baseline and may present with subtle or non-specific symptoms (confusion, lethargy, decreased appetite) rather than a high fever. So, interpreting fever in the elderly hinges on recognizing that a modest temperature elevation can be clinically significant and warrants evaluation for infection or other stressors.

Elderly often have lower baseline body temperatures, so what counts as fever is lower than in younger adults. This happens because aging alters thermoregulation and metabolic responses, and the immune system often mounts a less robust fever. As a result, a temperature like 100.2°F can reflect fever in an older adult, even though it would be considered a low-grade fever or normal in younger people. In practice, an elderly patient may also show fever with only a small rise above baseline and may present with subtle or non-specific symptoms (confusion, lethargy, decreased appetite) rather than a high fever. So, interpreting fever in the elderly hinges on recognizing that a modest temperature elevation can be clinically significant and warrants evaluation for infection or other stressors.