Lim WS, Macfarlane JT. As much as 30 percent of individuals that are treated in a hospital for pneumonia die from it. Pneumonia is a relatively common and sometimes fatal infection of the lungs – it can be viral, bacterial or fungal. 0. Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs, where sections of one or both lungs, fills with fluid. One of the most common bacterial causes is streptococcus pneumoniae, which accounts for 75% of cases. Mckee CM. Another sign of infection is fever, although this is often absent in the elderly. Visit our Cookie Policy and our Privacy Policy for more information about managing your cookies. They begin by understanding the health status of the elderly person who is afflicted with pneumonia. Other common bacterial causes include haemophilus infl uenzae (H. influenzae) and moraxella catarrhalis. If your loved one feels better but hasn’t finished taking all of his or her antibiotics, he or she should continue with the medication until it’s gon. If not treated properly, pneumonia can be fatal. Possible complications of pneumonia include: pleurisy – where the thin linings between your lungs and ribcage (pleura) become inflamed, which … Geriatrics. Woodhead MA, MacFarlane JT, McCracken JS, et al. Hill CD, Stamm WE. In practice, the diagnosis and management of pneumonia in the community is less dependent on the anatomical site of the infection than on its severity and effect on the individual patient. create an account now. In patients who are smokers or ex-smokers, lung cancer should be considered even after a single episode of pneumonia. Thorax 2003. A variety of organisms, including bacteria, viruses and fungi, can cause pneumonia.Pneumonia can range in seriousness from mild to life-threatening. An overall score of 0 indicates that home management is appropriate, while an overall score of one to two indicates admission to hospital should be considered. In extreme cases, and especially in high-risk populations like the elderly, it can be fatal. The air sacs may fill with fluid or pus (purulent material), causing cough with phlegm or pus, fever, chills, and difficulty breathing. The impairment in cough reflex may lead to fatal complication like aspiration pneumonia. If not treated properly, pneumonia can be fatal. The mortality rate for severe pneumonia is as high as 20% . Pneumonia is usually caused by infection with viruses or bacteria, and less commonly by other microorganisms. Pneumonia is a serious condition of the lungs especially if it occurs in elders aged 65 years and above. Demicheli V, Rivetti D, et al. When left untreated, pneumonia is deadly; it’s considered by the medical community to be as serious as a heart attack. Aging adults must follow their doctors’ directions correctly to prevent the illness from becoming fatal. Pneumonia is classified according to the types of germs that cause it and where you got the infection. This finding agrees with recent studies on severe community pneumonia in the elderly where H. influenzae accounted from 0 to 11% ... worsening hypoxemia, urinary incontinence of recent onset, and apyrexia were indicators of fatal outcome. If the elderly person has existing health conditions, especially those that involve the respiratory system, such as COPD the recovery period can take as long as 60 or more days and be far more challenging. Pneumonia in the elderly: the fatal complication. Pneumonia can be mild, and people with good health can recover within 1 to 3 weeks. 8-11am Pneumonia is a relatively common and sometimes fatal infection of the lungs – it can be viral, bacterial or fungal. Heart disease or dysrhythmia can cause acute dysnoea and cough. Unfortunately, older adults are at a higher risk of developing pneumonia. Nonvalue of the initial microbiological studies in the management of nonsevere communityacquired pneumonia. 11-2pm 12. If you need professional care for your senior loved one, Home Care Assistance is just a phone call away. Maybe: Most of the time it is not, but severe pneumonia can be fatal especially in those with underlying diseases that impair the immune system, the heart or the lungs. 58: 377-382, 11. Comorbid disease (such as COPD, bronchiectasis, and diabetes) and other disorders (such as immobility, poor nutrition and alcohol excess) can exacerbate the infection. Pneumonia in elderly is often cited as the fifth leading cause of death in the elderly and the most common cause of death in persons with severe dementia. Just 3% of these deaths took place in those who were age 45 or younger. This lung illness may cause severe breathing problems that put you in the hospital. If severe or improperly treated, the flu can quickly progress into pneumonia. PMID: 7054055 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] a lung infection that can sometimes lead to severe or life-threatening illness The most common symptom of pneumonia is a cough that produces phlegm. Key Topics in Respiratory Medicine, Bios Scientifi c Publishers, Oxford 1999, page 124, This site is intended for healthcare professionals, Blue Sky Offices Shoreham, 25 Cecil Pashley Way, Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex, BN43 5FF, UNITED KINGDOM, © Conflict of interest: Dr Crockett has received honoraria for lecture fees and received expenses for hospitality and travel costs to international conferences, and has participated in research sponsored by various companies. For some, pneumonia can be fatal. Pneumonia in the elderly is common and is not infrequently fatal. Infants, adults over 65 years old, people who smoke, or those … It occurs outside of hospitals or other health care facilities. Cornu C, Yzebe D. Effi cacy of pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine in immunocompetent adults: A meta-analysis of randomised trials. 5 The risk of nosocomial pneumonia increases in the elderly and was reported in one study to reach a peak of more than 100 episodes per … If the lungs aren’t operating at peak performance, we suffer. FALSE ASSUMPTION. In the fatal cases respiratory symptoms such as cough and sputum, except for dyspnea were less frequent but pulmonary infiltrations on chest roentgenograms were more massive as compared with those in the survived cases. In fact, this age group is recommended a shot of the vaccine which can avert the onset of pneumonia. Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs that affects the tiny air sacs known as alveoli. It is most serious for infants and young children, people older than age 65, … Respiratory Failure. 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