What is it about ?
Infections occur at any age. But older people are more susceptible to developing serious infections (of the respiratory tract, urinary tract and gastrointestinal system). In addition, symptoms of infections are often atypical in older people. This means that, for example, pneumonia can develop without fever and even almost without coughing. Infections often affect older people with one or more chronic diseases (diabetes, chronic bronchitis and cancer). Older people are generally less mobile and are sometimes confused or have dementia, so they cannot express themselves well to explain their symptoms. This is why infections in older people often progress more seriously, and it is more difficult to diagnose them.
How to recognize them?
Pneumonia
The elderly are particularly susceptible to respiratory infections. They sometimes suffer from one or another form of chronic bronchitis, their cough reflex is less good, so they spit out their mucus more difficult, they easily swallow askew, which causes food or drink to pass through their mouths. trachea, and they are often much less mobile.
The main signs are usually deterioration of general condition, mental confusion, loss of appetite and chest pain. Fever and cough are not always present. Pneumonia can be a complication of the flu.
Urinary tract infection
Women are more susceptible to UTIs after menopause, and men are at risk of UTI when the prostate gets bigger. The presence of a urinary catheter greatly increases the risk of urinary tract infection. Classic symptoms are the need to pass urine often, pain when passing urine, blood in the urine, and fever. But often the urinary tract infection goes unnoticed.
Here too, a deterioration of the general condition, loss of appetite and confusion are often the main signs. Bladder infection is usually milder than pyelonephritis, an infection of the renal pelvis, which can be accompanied by pain in the flank and fever with chills.
Infections in the stomach
Older people more often have a diverticulitis. The diverticulum is a bulge in the wall of the intestine in the shape of a pocket. Food remains can stagnate there and cause infection. Inflammation of the appendix (appendicitis) manifests as a typical pain in the right side of the lower abdomen. Inflammation of the bile ducts causes pain in the right upper part of the stomach, pain that radiates to the back and sometimes to the right shoulder. Gastrointestinal inflammation mainly causes diarrhea and vomiting. It is important to watch out for signs of dehydration such as a dry tongue, reduced elasticity of the skin, and sunken eyes.
How is the diagnosis made?
As the symptoms of the infection are often atypical or even absent, the doctor will order technical examinations. In case of deterioration of the general condition, in case of loss of appetite or in case of confusion, the doctor will first order a blood test and a urine test. In the blood, inflammatory factors are measured: the number of white blood cells and the level of C reactive protein (CRP), which increases with infection. The urine test looks for the presence of blood, pus and bacteria. If the doctor cannot find an explanation for the symptoms, they will usually order an x-ray of the lungs and an ultrasound of the belly. If this is not enough to make the diagnosis, the doctor will refer you to a specialist.
What can you do ?
It is very important that the elderly move as much as possible. Encourage them to keep moving, if necessary under the supervision of a physiotherapist. In addition, a good nutritional state guarantees optimal resistance; you therefore need a balanced diet, fresh food, with sufficient starch, proteins, fats and vitamins.
Pay attention to changes in behavior. Loss of appetite, decreased activity, and confusion can be signs of infection. Don’t wait too long. Often, simple examinations allow the diagnosis to be made.
As pneumonia is often a complication of influenza, it is recommended that older people be vaccinated against influenza annually. Specific vaccination against pneumonia (pneumococcal vaccine) is also useful.
What can the doctor do?
Pneumonia is treated with antibiotics. In case of shortness of breath and poor general condition, hospitalization may be necessary.
If the urinalysis shows the presence of bacteria, but you have no symptoms, it is unnecessary to treat. If there are signs of bladder infection, an antibiotic or urinary antiseptic is given. In case of repeated bladder infections, the doctor will consider treatment for a longer period. Treatment for pyelonephritis sometimes has to be done in a hospital to give the antibiotics by infusion.
If you have an infection in your stomach, you may need to have an operation.
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