An 88 year old resident of a long term care home has been suffering from a three day onset of increasing shortness of breath and
decreased oxygen saturation. At the hospital, an anterior-posterior chest X-ray and sputum culture and sensitivity has confirmed a diagnosis of bacterial pneumonia, yet the client’s tympanic temperature has not exceeded 37.3°C (99.2°F). The health care team would recognize that which of the following phenomena likely underlies this situation?
That the old adult Hypothalamus has diminished thermoregulatory activities.
Explanation:
The Hypothalamus is the control center for thermoregulation. receives input from thermal receptors throughout the body. Stimulation of the anterior hypothalamus yields vasodilatation and sweating. Stimulation of the posterior hypothalamus causes shivering. The Hypothalamus of the old age is weakened and can't carry out this function as much as that of the younger ones..
