Which is a systemic sign of wound infection?

Which is a systemic sign of wound infection?

• A. Fever
• B. Chills
• C. Malaise
• D. Leukocytosis

Answer: (A)

Fever is a hallmark systemic response to infection. When bacteria at the wound release pyrogens, they act on the hypothalamus to raise the body's set-point temperature. The result is a systemic increase in temperature, which reflects the body responding to infection and often signals that the infection is affecting the whole body, not just the local wound.

Chills can occur with fever but are part of the fever process rather than a standalone sign. Malaise is nonspecific and can accompany many conditions. Leukocytosis is a lab finding (an elevated white blood cell count) that indicates infection but is not a bedside sign you observe directly. Fever directly demonstrates the systemic involvement of an infection, making it the best indicator among the options.