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What Are The Treatment And Side Effects Of Pneumonia?
My dad is 70 yrs old and has been running a high fever from 102-104 for 4 days. He has no pain, no cough, no other symptoms really other than being tired and listless. He has had hard rigors during this time also and while he has fever, even when as low as 100.2, his mind is confused. Once fever gets down to normal though, immediately his mind is 100% fine and he is his old self. He is in the hospital, has had tons of blood tests, x-ray and cat scan. They have yet to find anything other than a small spot of pneumonia which seems would have been knocked out by the antibiotics by now. Has to be infection somewhere!
posted on
Fri, 14 Mar 2014
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Tue, 1 Jul 2014
Answered on
Tue, 1 Jul 2014
Last reviewed on
Hi,
Elderly like the pediatric age group do not produce symptoms like usual adults. There respiratory, cardiac, liver and renal functions are limited, so they do not produce overt symptoms.
Any listlessness and fever should be thought serious unless otherwise.
A small spot of pneumonia until it is healed and fever completely comes down does not signify complete cure.
As the elderly have reduced immune system, they require good supportive treatment. I expect them to have blood and urine for culture purpose to rule out any bacterial infection in other locations.
Hope it helps.
Any further queries, happy to help again.
Dr. Prakash HM
Elderly like the pediatric age group do not produce symptoms like usual adults. There respiratory, cardiac, liver and renal functions are limited, so they do not produce overt symptoms.
Any listlessness and fever should be thought serious unless otherwise.
A small spot of pneumonia until it is healed and fever completely comes down does not signify complete cure.
As the elderly have reduced immune system, they require good supportive treatment. I expect them to have blood and urine for culture purpose to rule out any bacterial infection in other locations.
Hope it helps.
Any further queries, happy to help again.
Dr. Prakash HM
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