Causes of Pneumonia in Elderly People Pneumonia is caused by exposure to germs, most often bacteria or a virus. People of all ages come into contact with the organisms that cause pneumonia, but that contact results in pneumonia more often and in a more aggressive form in seniors.

What is the cause of pneumonia in elderly?

In the U.S., pneumonia in the elderly is usually caused by bacteria or a virus. Pneumococcal pneumonia is the most common type of bacterial pneumonia, affecting more than 900,000 Americans each year, according to the ALA. This type of pneumonia is caused by a germ called Streptococcus pneumoniae.

What is the most common cause of pneumonia in the elderly population?

Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most common cause of pneumonia among the elderly. Aspiration pneumonia is underdiagnosed in this group of patients, and tuberculosis always should be considered. In this population an etiologic diagnosis is rarely available when antimicrobial therapy must be instituted.

What are signs of pneumonia in the elderly?

Signs and symptoms of pneumonia may include:

• Chest pain when you breathe or cough.
• Confusion or changes in mental awareness (in adults age 65 and older)
• Cough, which may produce phlegm.
• Fatigue.
• Fever, sweating and shaking chills.

Is pneumonia fatal in the elderly?

Pneumonia can be life-threatening to seniors exposed to bacteria, viruses, or fungi. It is most dangerous for people older than age 65 because seniors tend to have health issues or weakened immune systems.

How do you avoid pneumonia in the elderly?

If you’re an older individual, you can help to prevent pneumonia by doing the following:

1. Getting the pneumococcal vaccine. This helps to prevent pneumonia due to S.
2. Getting the influenza vaccine each year.
3. Washing your hands regularly.
4. Avoiding smoking.
5. Making healthy lifestyle choices.

What are the 4 stages of pneumonia?

Stage 1: Congestion. Stage 2: Red hepatization. Stage 3: Grey hepatization. Stage 4: Resolution.

How long can elderly pneumonia live?

When you are caring for a senior with pneumonia, you can expect a recovery time as long as six to eight weeks. This increased recovery time is due to the weakened state of the elderly with the illness and their body’s inability to fight off the bacteria that pneumonia produces in their lungs.

How long does it take to recover from Covid pneumonia in the elderly?

For the 15% of infected individuals who develop moderate to severe COVID-19 and are admitted to the hospital for a few days and require oxygen, the average recovery time ranges between three to six weeks.

How can someone get pneumonia?

Ways you can get pneumonia include: Bacteria and viruses living in your nose, sinuses, or mouth may spread to your lungs. You may breathe some of these germs directly into your lungs. You breathe in (inhale) food, liquids, vomit, or fluids from the mouth into your lungs (aspiration pneumonia).

What are the final stages of pneumonia?

What are the signs someone is approaching end of life?

• feeling more severely out of breath.
• reducing lung function making breathing harder.
• having frequent flare-ups.
• finding it difficult to maintain a healthy body weight due to loss of appetite.
• feeling more anxious and depressed.

What are the warning signs of pneumonia?

The signs and symptoms of pneumonia may include:

• Cough, which may produce greenish, yellow or even bloody mucus.
• Fever, sweating and shaking chills.
• Shortness of breath.
• Rapid, shallow breathing.
• Sharp or stabbing chest pain that gets worse when you breathe deeply or cough.
• Loss of appetite, low energy, and fatigue.

Can an 80 year old survive pneumonia?

Most seniors who develop pneumonia recover from it. But how long it takes to recover depends on many factors, including what bacteria or virus caused it and whether the person is frail or has additional health conditions that make recovery more difficult.

How can pneumonia be prevented?

You can help prevent pneumonia by doing the following:

1. Get the flu vaccine each year. People can develop bacterial pneumonia after a case of the flu.
2. Get the pneumococcal vaccine.
3. Practice good hygiene.
4. Don’t smoke.
5. Practice a healthy lifestyle.
6. Avoid sick people.