Older adult clients may react differently to infectious processes and

Older adult clients may react differently to infectious processes and a nurse suspects that her older adult client may be experiencing hypostatic pneumonia. The nurse must be alert to atypical signs and symptoms, such as:

1. Hypotension
2. Confusion
3. Erythema
4. Chills

ANSWER

ANS: 2
An infection in older adults may not present with typical signs and symptoms. Atypical symp-toms such as confusion, incontinence, or agitation may be the only symptoms of an infectious illness. An unexplained increased heart rate, confusion, or generalized fatigue may be the only symptoms of pneumonia in the older adult. Hypotension is not one of the atypical symptoms of an older adult experiencing infection. It may be a symptom of a systemic infection related to an elevation in body temperature (regardless of age).
Erythema is a typical symptom of a localized infection.
Chills are a typical symptom of a systemic infection.