The gradual decrease in body temperature over days rather than a sudden fall is known as:

Appeared in: DSSSB 13 August 2024

Explanation

Lysis is the medical term for the gradual decline of a fever over several days.
This pattern of temperature reduction is typically associated with a steady and favorable recovery from an illness.
The key differentiator is the timeframe; lysis occurs over days, whereas a crisis occurs suddenly over hours.

Option A: A true crisis involves a sudden and rapid drop in temperature, not a gradual decrease over days.
Option B: A false crisis is also a sudden drop in temperature, not a gradual one. Furthermore, it is associated with a worsening clinical state, not recovery.
Option D: Rigor is a clinical sign associated with a rising temperature, not a falling one. It involves intense shivering as the body attempts to generate heat to reach a new, higher hypothalamic set point.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Patterns of Fever Resolution as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Monitoring the pattern of fever resolution is a critical nursing assessment. A gradual decline (lysis) generally indicates a positive prognosis and effective treatment.
A sudden drop (crisis), especially if not accompanied by clinical improvement (false crisis), is a red flag that requires immediate nursing assessment and physician notification, as it may signal impending circulatory collapse.
What if? If the patient's temperature dropped suddenly from 104°F to 98.6°F in 4 hours and they began sweating profusely with a stable blood pressure, the correct term would be 'True crisis'.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key terms in the question: 'gradual decrease' and 'over days'.
This is a definition-based recall question. Access your knowledge of fever terminology.
Differentiate between the two main patterns of fever defervescence: lysis (gradual) and crisis (sudden).
The question's description directly matches the definition of lysis.
Eliminate 'rigor' as it relates to a rising temperature.
Eliminate 'true crisis' and 'false crisis' as they both describe a sudden, not gradual, temperature drop.

Concept Tested & Keywords

QWi88TGGY9chUCqMpMf0vt

E6 Medicine Davidson Principles Practice 24e p. 124-126

E6 Nursing Fundamentals Potter Perry 12e Part 3 p. 12-14

Practise the full DSSSB 13 August 2024

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.