Which of the following is a SIRS criterion related to temperature?

• A. WBC > 11,000 or < 4,000 or > 10% bands
• B. Respiratory rate > 20
• C. Pulse > 90
• D. Temperature > 38 C or < 36 C

Answer: (D)

SIRS is diagnosed when two or more systemic criteria are abnormal, spanning temperature, heart rate, respiration (or PaCO2), and white blood cell count. The temperature criterion is fever above 38 C or hypothermia below 36 C. This specifically links to temperature, making it the correct choice for a criterion related to temperature. The other options reflect other SIRS criteria—tachycardia for heart rate, tachypnea for respiration, and abnormal WBC counts—but they do not describe temperature. Remember that you need at least two abnormal criteria to define SIRS, so fever or hypothermia alone isn’t enough without another abnormal parameter.