If a patient presents with fever, what term best describes their condition?

If a patient presents with fever, what term best describes their condition?

• A. Febrile
• B. Afebrile
• C. Pyrogenic
• D. Hyperthermic

Answer: (A)

Fever means the patient is febrile. Febrile describes someone who has an elevated, regulated body temperature in response to illness or infection. Afebrile would mean there is no fever. Pyrogenic refers to fever-causing substances or processes, not the patient’s current state. Hyperthermic describes a high body temperature from external heat or thermoregulation failure, not the typical fever response. So the best term for a patient presenting with fever is febrile.

Fever means the patient is febrile. Febrile describes someone who has an elevated, regulated body temperature in response to illness or infection. Afebrile would mean there is no fever. Pyrogenic refers to fever-causing substances or processes, not the patient’s current state. Hyperthermic describes a high body temperature from external heat or thermoregulation failure, not the typical fever response. So the best term for a patient presenting with fever is febrile.