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junebug1 Asked October 2015

What causes chills and fever that go away in a day in 80 year old?

Chills and fever come on suddenly. Fever can range from 100 to 103. Fever doesn't last more than a day. Left feeling somewhat lethargic. Returns to normal in a day or two. Carotid arteries ok. Heart bypass 15 yrs ago.

pamstegma Oct 2015
Between 40% and 61% of patients who experience stroke develop fever, and those patients with fever are far more likely to die within the first 10 days after a stroke than those with lower temperatures. See the MD or get to the ER when you see 103F (39C)

askcherylc Oct 2015
A temperature that high is life threatening to an elderly person. I would suggest you contact your father's primary physician.

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Llamalover47 Oct 2015
Really, I would not fool around with a fever that climbs to103. I would get a same day appointment with the doc and if that is not possible, go to the ER.

JoAnn29 Oct 2015
I would check for a UTI. This is very serious in men. Chills are a sign.

DILHelper Oct 2015
This happened to my mom a lot in the last year of her life while in a nursing home for advanced stages of vascular dementia. After all possible causes had been ruled out the doctor told me that her body was losing its ability to regulate its temperature.

New2this Oct 2015
Diverticulitis, Ulcerative Colitis? Some things that are "chronic systemic" can wax and wain and temp right along with it, although usually more of a "low grade" temp, like less than 100.5. A Dr. visit and blood draw are definitely in order, something that hasn't been discovered yet could be escalating. Best to head it off before they wind up in big trouble. Good luck!

womenofGod Oct 2015
Fever generally means infection somewhere in the body.

ferris1 Oct 2015
I can only think some medication is causing the return to "normal" briefly. You don't say how long this has occurred, but tell his doctor. Chills and fever (if only briefly) indicate some sort of infection. He may have a UTI or HPV II virus or shingles virus which lays dormant inside those who have had chickenpox (or being exposed to ones with chickenpox). "Spikes" in temperature are usually normal, but NOT 100 - 103. Get him in and check for an elevated WBC count.

ellie52 Oct 2015
I don't know what is causing it, but I think you should schedule an appointment with the primary physician and ask them to do a full blood screening just to be on the safe side.

freqflyer Oct 2015
Maybe it is an allergic reaction to some meds or something he/she is eating or the combination of the two. If this is happening on a regular basis, keep a pill and food diary to see if there is a common denominator. And let that person's primary doctor know what is happening.

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