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The very tiny air sacs in the lungs known as alveoli become irritated when someone has pneumonia. As a result, this could cause symptoms including a cough and breathing problems.
The more severe symptoms of pneumonia are more likely to affect older people. In Halifax County, Nova Scotia, Canada, 1 out of every 1,000 residents with pneumonia were hospitalized, compared to 33 out of 1,000 inhabitants of nursing homes. Hospitalization-related community-acquired pneumonia had an overall mortality rate of 21.9%.
The following are some factors that may increase the severity of pneumonia in elderly people:
- As we get older, a natural decline occurs in the strength of our immune system.
- In older persons, chronic health disorders such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) or heart disease are more likely to exist, both of which can make them more susceptible to pneumonia.
What signs and symptoms are associated with pneumonia in senior citizens?
It’s possible that the symptoms of pneumonia in older people will be different from those seen in people of other ages. It’s possible that older persons who have pneumonia are more likely to have:
- Experience feelings of weakness or unsteadiness, both of which might increase the likelihood of falling.
- Have a body temperature that is lower than normal and feelings of bewilderment or delirium
- Experience shifts in their functional status, which is defined as the ability to carry out day-to-day activities
- Experience leaking urine
- Inability to eat
It can be more difficult to identify pneumonia in older persons since the symptoms are frequently less visible and can differ from those of typical pneumonia.
What symptoms are associated with the flu?
The flu usually appears quickly, whereas pneumonia usually develops more slowly and emerges as a side effect of the flu. Viruses are the source of infections like the flu, whereas bacteria or viruses or both can cause infections like pneumonia.
Some of the symptoms of the flu are:
- Aches and pains throughout the body
- Hacking cough
- Extreme fatigue
- Fever above 100.4 degrees celsius
- Headache
Is there a link between the flu and stomach ailments?
Children are more frequently affected by this sickness, although it can also affect older people and cause gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
What other complications are associated with it?
The flu might potentially cause:
- Pneumonia
- Dehydration
- A worsening of asthma, emphysema, and heart disease
If you have any of the following symptoms, you should seek medical attention right away:
- When you have the flu, you may have problems breathing.
- After three or four days, the symptoms have not improved and have not gotten any worse.
You can suddenly develop signs of a more hazardous disease, such as nausea, vomiting, a high temperature, shaking chills, chest pain, or coughing up thick, yellow-green mucus, after your flu symptoms start to get better.
How can I tell the difference between having the flu or the common cold and having pneumonia?
The only person who can correctly diagnose you is a medical professional because the symptoms of a cold, the flu, and pneumonia can be challenging to distinguish from one another. It is imperative to seek medical assistance as soon as any serious symptoms that might suggest pneumonia appear since pneumonia can be lethal.
Want to learn more?
ConsidraCare’s live-in caregivers are trained to offer professional support and companionship to seniors. reach out to us at wecare@considracare.com or call us at 1-855-410-7971 to arrange care for a loved one.
Maryam is a leading writer at ConsidraCare, specializing in senior care. Her well-researched articles are widely recognized for guiding families through the complexities of caring for loved ones, establishing her as a trusted and authoritative voice in the field.
