Q: I've heard that an increasing number of older adults are being admitted to hospitals with pneumonia. What is pneumonia and how dangerous is it for older adults?

Ask Our Experts About Older People And Pneumonia

• I've heard that an increasing number of older adults are being admitted to hospitals with pneumonia. What is pneumonia and how dangerous is it for older adults?
• What causes pneumonia?
• Can pneumonia be prevented with a vaccine?
• But is the vaccine recommended now?
• Is the vaccine safe?
• Is there anything else older adults can do to prevent pneumonia?

Q: I've heard that an increasing number of older adults are being admitted to hospitals with pneumonia. What is pneumonia and how dangerous is it for older adults?

A: Pneumonia is a common and serious illness. It often begins with cold symptoms. A few days later, the person develops fever, chills, difficulty breathing and worsening cough. Older patients may not have all of these symptoms, but instead have confusion, dizziness, incontinence and/or a decreased appetite.

In the United States, pneumonia is the sixth leading cause of death and the number one cause of death from infection. Half of all pneumonia cases are adults over the age of 65, and often they are hospitalized. Older adults are three to five times more likely to die from pneumonia, especially when they develop bacteria in their bloodstream, are from nursing homes or in the intensive care unit.

Q: What causes pneumonia?

A: It can result from a bad cold or the flu. Many bacteria and viruses can cause it. It is more common and associated with more complications when someone has other chronic conditions such as heart, lung, liver, kidney disease, cancer, diabetes and immune disorders such as HIV. Alcoholism, having an organ transplant, having had a stroke or other neurological conditions and living in any chronic care facility increases the risk. Sedative medications and using chronic steroids and some other medications also increases the risk for pneumonia and its complications.

A bacteria called pneumococcus is the most common bug causing people to be hospitalized for pneumonia. Normally people can recover from this, but people in the above groups can develop complications such as respiratory failure and meningitis, all which make patients more likely to die from their infection.

Q: Can pneumonia be prevented with a vaccine?

A: The pneumococcal vaccine (Pneumovax) and the flu vaccine both help prevent pneumonia and its complications in people at risk. Many bacteria are resistant to antibiotics now so vaccines are very important.

Q: But is the vaccine recommended now?

A: Yes. We encourage all adults over the age of 50 to receive the flu vaccine every year in the fall, as well as health care workers and people in the risk categories listed above, as well as people caring for people at increased risk. The pneumococcal vaccine should be given just once to all adults over the age of 65, or younger if they have the types of chronic illnesses listed above. Sometimes boosters are needed for the pneumococcal vaccine so ask your doctor about that. Both vaccines can be given at the same time.

Q: Is the vaccine safe?

A: Yes. A small percentage of people may develop pain, redness or swelling at the injection area, or a low-grade fever, but this usually lasts less than 48 hours. The vaccines do not cause the flu or pneumonia.

Q: Is there anything else older adults can do to prevent pneumonia?

A: Wash your hands frequently. Avoid contact with others who have colds. Don't smoke. Take good care of yourself and make sure you see your doctor regularly. Take your medications and make sure any other chronic conditions you may have are under the best control possible.

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