Bush senior shifted to ICU for persistent fever

Former US president George H.W. Bush and his wife Barbara arrive for the inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th US president at the Capitol in Washington on January 20, 2009. The 88-year-old former president, who has been hospitalized for a month undergoing treatment for bronchitis, may not be released from a Houston hospital in time to celebrate Christmas at home as doctors had hoped, according to a spokesman at Methodist Hospital in Houston, Texas on December 23, 2012. AFP PHOTO

Former US president George H W Bush has been admitted to the intensive care unit at a hospital here after battling a persistent fever all week, but he is alert and talking to medical staff, his spokesman said today.

Bush Sr, who has been in the hospital with a lingering cough since November 23, was not even able to celebrate Christmas with his family.

His spokesman Jim McGrath said the 88-year-old former president's fever rose yesterday, but doctors at Methodist Hospital report he is doing better than the day before.

He was admitted to the ICU on Sunday and since has been on an all-liquid diet.
"He is considered in guarded condition," McGrath said.

"He has suffered a series of setbacks."The fever is being treated with Tylenol, but it's not responding to the treatment.

McGrath was not sure what caused the fever.McGrath said Bush is alert, having a "running banter" with his nurses and is surrounded by family. "His doctors have said emphatically this is not the end game."

The 41st president was admitted to Methodist Hospital in late November for a bronchitis-related cough and has remained there to regain strength.