A client with cancer develops fever, chills, malaise, and headache after administration of a colony-stimulating factor. Which nursing intervention is most beneficial to reduce the flu-like symptoms?

A client with cancer develops fever, chills, malaise, and headache after administration of a colony-stimulating factor. Which nursing intervention is most beneficial to reduce the flu-like symptoms?

• A. Monitor lab values for an increase in WBCs
• B. Administer acetaminophen q4h
• C. Monitor vital signs q4h for 24 hours
• D. Administer antiemetics before, during, and after therapy

Answer: (D)

Flu-like reactions after colony-stimulating factors come from cytokine release and typically show fever, chills, malaise, and headache. The most effective way to ease these symptoms is to give an analgesic-antipyretic such as acetaminophen, which directly reduces fever and body aches. By lowering fever and discomfort, the patient can rest more comfortably and recover more quickly. Monitoring lab values or vital signs is important for safety but doesn’t relieve the symptoms themselves. Anti-nemetics may help if nausea occurs, but they don’t address the fever and malaise as effectively as acetaminophen. Therefore, administering acetaminophen is the best choice to mitigate the flu-like reaction.

Flu-like reactions after colony-stimulating factors come from cytokine release and typically show fever, chills, malaise, and headache. The most effective way to ease these symptoms is to give an analgesic-antipyretic such as acetaminophen, which directly reduces fever and body aches. By lowering fever and discomfort, the patient can rest more comfortably and recover more quickly. Monitoring lab values or vital signs is important for safety but doesn’t relieve the symptoms themselves. Anti-nemetics may help if nausea occurs, but they don’t address the fever and malaise as effectively as acetaminophen. Therefore, administering acetaminophen is the best choice to mitigate the flu-like reaction.