Question

A patient has been hospitalized for the past 48 hours with a fever of unknown origin. His medical record indicates tympanic temperatures of 38.7° C (101.6° F) (4:00 AM), 36.6° C (97.9° F) (8:00 AM), 36.9° C (98.4° F) (noon), 37.6° C (99.6° F) (4:00 PM), and 38.3° C (100.9° F) (8:00 PM). How would you describe this pattern of temperature measurements?

Answer 1

The patient exhibits a fluctuating fever with peaks and near-normal temperatures, suggesting an infection or inflammatory process that requires medical investigation.

Step-by-step explanation:

The pattern of temperature measurements for the patient hospitalized with a fever of unknown origin fluctuates around the average normal body temperature of 37.0°C (98.6°F). The recorded temperatures indicate a cycle of fever peaking at certain times (4:00 AM and 8:00 PM) with periods of near-normal body temperature readings in between. This pattern may suggest an underlying infection or inflammatory process, as fevers can result from the body's immune response to such conditions. Further medical investigation is warranted to determine the cause of the fever, especially since it has persisted for over 48 hours.