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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Why Isn T Bi-lateral Phenomena Induced Fever Improving Despite Antibiotics And Tylenol?

My mother was hospitalized on Friday evening. She was found to have Bi lateral phenomena. She has been on several antibiotics and Tylenol. She was transferred to ICU last evening after she had an adverse reaction to Ativan. Her breathing is getting worse and they have not been able to get her fever to go below 100. She has had a fever since LAST Saturday. They are saying that she may possibly need to go on a ventilator and also that she was given Librium a few hours back because she was showing signs of alcohol withdrawal. I do not understand why she is not getting better with all of the antibiotics that she is on and why they can not seem to get her fever down. She has been in the hospital for going on five days and we still have no answers.
Thu, 20 Feb 2014
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Internal Medicine Specialist,  's  Response
Hello,
I can help you with your question. I am a hospitalist. I think the reason why it is taking her so long to recover is because she is going through alcohol withdrawal. This can cause fevers as well. It would be hard to tell if the fever is actually from pneumonia or from the withdrawal. Usually this peaks at 5 days and then gets gradually better. It would be important to treat her with Librium and possibly other medications to prevent the withdrawal from getting worse. Also, pneumonia is much more severe and harder to treat in alcoholics. It is hard for her body to heal normally because she is fighting so hard against the withdrawal. She may possibly need a ventilator if she is not improving and especially if she is having severe withdrawal (such as hallucinations, tremors, disorientation). After a few days she should improve. Give it some more time, it sounds like she is very ill. She should turn the corner soon.
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Why Isn T Bi-lateral Phenomena Induced Fever Improving Despite Antibiotics And Tylenol?

Hello, I can help you with your question. I am a hospitalist. I think the reason why it is taking her so long to recover is because she is going through alcohol withdrawal. This can cause fevers as well. It would be hard to tell if the fever is actually from pneumonia or from the withdrawal. Usually this peaks at 5 days and then gets gradually better. It would be important to treat her with Librium and possibly other medications to prevent the withdrawal from getting worse. Also, pneumonia is much more severe and harder to treat in alcoholics. It is hard for her body to heal normally because she is fighting so hard against the withdrawal. She may possibly need a ventilator if she is not improving and especially if she is having severe withdrawal (such as hallucinations, tremors, disorientation). After a few days she should improve. Give it some more time, it sounds like she is very ill. She should turn the corner soon.