Which of the following symptoms is associated with systemic infections?

Systemic infections are those that affect the entire body rather than being localized to one area. Fever and body aches are classic signs of a systemic infection. The body's response to infection often includes an elevation in temperature (fever) as the immune system works to fight off the invading pathogens. Body aches can occur due to the release of certain chemicals in response to the infection, which can affect various muscle and joint tissues throughout the body.

In contrast, localized symptoms, such as swelling or other symptoms that do not involve systemic responses (like fatigue or widespread discomfort), are more indicative of localized infections or other issues rather than a systemic infection. Therefore, the combination of fever with body aches signals a broader systemic response to a true infectious process.