Infections are a leading cause of death in adults aged 60 or above. While common infections such as UTIs or influenza can affect anyone, they can be deadly for adults over 65. This is because these infections are harder to diagnose in older adults, leading to poor health and increased hospitalization risk.
For caregivers working as elderly companion care on payment, it is essential to learn about the most common infections in older adults, their signs and symptoms, risk factors, and ways to prevent them.
Common Infections in Older Adults
Some of the most common infections in seniors include:
Bacterial pneumonia
More than 60% of older adults get admitted to hospitals due to bacterial pneumonia. Many reasons contribute to this, including changes in lung capacity, environmental or climatic changes, exposure to disease in social settings, etc.
The trouble is seniors do not always present with typical symptoms such as cold, flu, or fever, making it hard to diagnose the infection in its early stages. Make sure you seek immediate assistance if you observe your elderly experiencing loss of appetite, dizziness, delirium, or confusion. Doctors usually prescribe antibiotic treatment for this type of infection.
UTIs
UTIs, also known as Urinary Tract Infections, are another most common type of bacterial infection in seniors. The presence of diabetes can increase the risk of UTIs among the elderly.
Some of the most common symptoms and early signs include urinary incontinence, behavioral changes, and discomfort. We offer great alternatives to nursing homes: home health care for seniors, … Passion Tree Homecare Services Ltd provide services
Your physician may conduct urinalysis or several other tests to confirm the diagnosis and prescribe medicines accordingly. In order to prevent UTIs, make sure your elderly loved ones consume plenty of water and liquid and stay hydrated all the time.
Influenza
Influenza, popularly known as flu is another infection type that affects millions of people every year. Adults 65 years and older are at a higher risk of developing complications associated with influenza infection.
The Elderly can however benefit from the high-dose flu vaccine, which is proven to be effective in reducing the severity of symptoms and other risks associated with the disease.
While cough, flu, and fever are common influenza symptoms, the infection may present different signs in seniors – behavioral changes, weakness, and confusion to name a few.
Gastrointestinal infections
Our intestines are home to both healthy and unhealthy bacteria. The unhealthy bacteria often come from raw food, contaminated water, and poor hand hygiene practices. As a result, seniors may feel abdominal pain, fever, diarrhea, and nausea.
The best way to prevent gastrointestinal infections in seniors is to ensure the food is properly cooked. You may also want to ensure your elderly loved ones are following proper hand hygiene practices.
Skin infections
Skin infections are also quite common in seniors. They mainly occur due to aging skin that eventually loses its capability to heal and resist disease.
To prevent skin infections, personal hygiene is important. Carefully observe any unusual changes to your senior’s skin, and seek assistance immediately if you notice any sort of itching, pain, or lesions.
