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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Is On And Off Fever With Dry Cough At The Age Of 85 Serious?

My 85 year old has rise and fall fever from 38.4-39.4C with there we are constantly cooling off his body with towel.
He had drying coughing and we tube feed him his normal diet (he is on tube feed), but with more water. It has been all day, should we take him to ER?
Thu, 25 Feb 2016
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Pulmonologist,  's  Response
Thanks for your question on Health Care Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Yes, you should definitely take him to the ER and get done chest x ray to rule out aspiration pneumonia.
Prolonged tube feeding is known to cause aspiration of food and water in the lungs. And this can cause aspiration pneumonia.
He is also having constant coughing and fever so possibility of pneumonia is more.
So get done chest x ray for the diagnosis of pneumonia.
If he is having pneumonia then he will need antibiotics and other supportive drugs.
So don't wait at home, take him to ER and discuss all these.
Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further. Wishing him good health. Thanks.
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Is On And Off Fever With Dry Cough At The Age Of 85 Serious?

Thanks for your question on Health Care Magic. I can understand your concern. Yes, you should definitely take him to the ER and get done chest x ray to rule out aspiration pneumonia. Prolonged tube feeding is known to cause aspiration of food and water in the lungs. And this can cause aspiration pneumonia. He is also having constant coughing and fever so possibility of pneumonia is more. So get done chest x ray for the diagnosis of pneumonia. If he is having pneumonia then he will need antibiotics and other supportive drugs. So don t wait at home, take him to ER and discuss all these. Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further. Wishing him good health. Thanks.