Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) Practice Test

In elderly patients, a subnormal temperature can be a significant indicator of a serious infection. Unlike younger adults, who typically present with fever in response to infection, older adults may not exhibit a robust febrile response. Their immune systems can be less responsive, and as a result, infections may not cause the expected rise in body temperature. This can lead to a situation where a subnormal temperature signals a critical need for medical intervention and can be an early warning sign of sepsis or other serious infections.

Elevated temperature could indicate infection but is less common in the elderly due to the blunted immune response. An increased heart rate can occur with various conditions, not just infections, and does not specifically indicate severity. A generalized rash might suggest an infection or other issues but is not as definitive as subnormal temperature in the context of elderly patients and serious infections. Thus, recognizing subnormal temperature as a potential hallmark of infection is crucial for prompt diagnosis and treatment in this vulnerable population.