Patient Care Technician (PCT) AAH Practice Exam

Which of the following is a common sign of infection?

1. Hypothermia

2. Fever

3. Hypertension

4. Bradycardia

The correct answer is: Fever

Fever is a common sign of infection and indicates that the body’s immune system is actively fighting off pathogens. When an infection occurs, the body typically responds by raising its temperature as a defense mechanism. This elevation in core body temperature is mediated by the hypothalamus and is often triggered by pyrogens, which can be derived from bacteria, viruses, or the body’s own immune response. Fever is significant not only because it serves as an indicator of the body’s response to infection, but it also helps to create an environment that is less favorable for the proliferation of pathogens. The increase in body temperature enhances the activity of white blood cells and other immune mechanisms that are crucial for eliminating the infection. Other options, while they may have their own clinical significance, do not typically indicate an infection. Hypothermia reflects a dangerously low body temperature, hypertension refers to high blood pressure that is not necessarily linked to infections, and bradycardia denotes an abnormally slow heart rate, which may arise from various other conditions but is not a hallmark sign of infection. Thus, fever stands out as a clear and commonly recognized sign that points to an ongoing infectious process.