Even a common cold can cause pneumonia in a vulnerable senior. Essentially, any underlying issue that affects the lungs can bring about an infection that causes inflammation or fluid buildup in the lungs.

• Although coming down with a cold is usually no cause for alarm, it does weaken the immune system, which increases your risk for pneumonia. Additionally, infants, the elderly and people who have ongoing health conditions like COPD are at a higher risk for developing pneumonia. Pneumonia is almost always caused by a virus or a bacterial infection.

What are the symptoms of pneumonia in the elderly?

Symptoms 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. Lower than normal body temperature (in adults older than age 65 and people with weak immune systems) Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.

How do you know if a cold has turned into pneumonia?

Signs and Symptoms of Pneumonia Fever (usually above 101F) Cough that produces discolored mucus and continues to get worse. Chills. Rapid breathing. Pain when coughing or breathing deeply. Shortness of breath. Muscle or joint aches. Confusion (in older adults)

How serious is pneumonia in the elderly?

Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs that can be serious in older adults . In the U.S., nearly 250,000 people are hospitalized with pneumonia each year, and about 50,000 die from the disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Seniors are at high risk for complications and death.

Can a 90 year old recover from pneumonia?

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.

What is the survival rate for pneumonia in the elderly?

Pneumonia in the elderly happens fast and the prognosis is poor, and elderly are susceptible to severe Pneumonia . The mortality rate for severe pneumonia is as high as 20% [4]. The principal cause of the death is respiratory insufficiency [5].

How long is recovery from pneumonia in the elderly?

Recovery from Pneumonia in Elderly People Recovery will likely take at least one to three weeks but can take longer. Sometimes pneumonia that appeared to be gone comes back. When caring for a senior who has pneumonia , watch for any new or worse symptoms and report them to a doctor right away.

What are the 4 stages of pneumonia?

There are four stages of pneumonia , which are consolidation, red hepatization, grey hepatization and resolution.

Is Vicks VapoRub good for pneumonia?

A. We are impressed that Vicks VapoRub on the soles of the feet actually helped a serious cough that signaled pneumonia . We do NOT recommend toughing it out with a home remedy as long as your hubby did. Q.

Can a common cold turn into pneumonia?

We often hear that a cold or flu turned into pneumonia . That’s not accurate. However, pneumonia can develop as a secondary bacterial infection after the flu or a cold . Pneumonia , ear infections, and bronchitis can all result from flu or cold .

What are the symptoms of dying from pneumonia?

The most common physical symptoms in the final stages are: 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. feeling more anxious and depressed.

What is the home remedy for pneumonia in the elderly?

How to Treat Pneumonia in Seniors Rest. Your body is able to fight off germs when you get adequate sleep. Hydration. Keeping your body well hydrated can prevent the build-up of mucus in the lungs. Follow doctor’s orders. A doctor may prescribe antibiotics if the pneumonia is caused by bacteria.

How long does pneumonia take to kill?

Most people do eventually recover from pneumonia . However, the 30-day mortality rate is 5 to 10 percent of hospitalized patients. It can be up to 30 percent in those admitted to intensive care.

Can an elderly person recover from aspiration pneumonia?

Recently, the effectiveness of rehabilitative management including physical, pulmonary, and dysphagia rehabilitation for aspiration pneumonia was reported. Several studies showed that early rehabilitation was associated with reduced mortality and early hospital discharge after aspiration pneumonia .

How serious is fluid on the lungs in elderly?

It’s fairly common for seniors to suffer from fluid in the lungs , but getting a good prognosis depends on understanding the underlying cause. Most cases are the result of heart problems, which is why acute pulmonary edema has a one-year mortality rate of about 40% for elderly patients.

What happens when pneumonia gets worse?

If your pneumonia isn’t treated, the pleura can get swollen, creating a sharp pain when you breathe in. If you don’t treat the swelling, the area between the pleura may fill with fluid, which is called a pleural effusion. If the fluid gets infected, it leads to a problem called empyema.