[Febrile syndrome in an elderly patient].
Fever in the elderly as compared with young adults has a clinical expression, prevalence, and diagnosis that require a specific type of evaluation. The significance of fever in the elderly gains importance with the increase of the population's age and it must be considered an alarm signal in these patients. Etiologically, the primary cause of prolonged fever with unspecific origin in this population, is arteritis of giant cells, followed by (according to epidemiological environment) tuberculosis and hematological neoplasias. There is no consensus on diagnostic approaches, but it is essential to take great care in the process due to risk associated with invasive tests and low tolerance to them.
Fernández Moyano
A
A
Unidad de Medicina Interna, Servicio de Medicina, Hospital San Juan de Dios del Aljarafe, Bormujos, Sevilla, España. afernandez@aljarafe.sjd.es
Mata Martín
A M
AM
Espinosa Calleja
R
R
D000368:Aged; D001831:Body Temperature; D005334:Fever / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged