Which symptom indicates dehydration or infection risk requiring reporting?

• A. Mild fatigue after lunch.
• B. Slight headache with normal vitals.
• C. Fever or elevated temperature, chills, new confusion, or changes in urinary/bowel habits; report to supervisor.
• D. Occasional sneezing.

Answer: (C)

Recognizing when a client may be dehydrated or developing an infection is the key idea here. Fever or elevated temperature and chills are classic signs that the body is fighting something and need timely attention. New confusion, especially in older adults, can indicate a serious illness or dehydration affecting brain function and should be reported promptly. Changes in urinary or bowel habits can point to dehydration (less urine, darker urine) or a possible infection (such as a urinary tract infection). Because these signs signal a potential health risk, they require supervisor involvement to assess and intervene early.

The other symptoms described are more nonspecific or mild: fatigue after lunch could be normal variation, a slight headache with normal vitals doesn’t indicate a problem needing reporting, and occasional sneezing is typically benign.