Symptoms of Airborne Infection in the Elderly

Usually, when you’re trying to diagnose infections in people, you look for signs like fever, vomiting chills etc. However, when it comes to elder care, these signs are often absent and replaced by other signs such as subnormal temperature, feeling disoriented, feeling tired and eating less. Since these are things that can occur with or without an infection, we tend not to pay attention to them. However, when it comes to the elderly, especially elderly that live in long term care facilities, it’s a good idea to take note of small changes in physical and mental well-being. If your elderly parent is over the age of 65, then keep in mind that s/he may not display the usual array of symptoms but might complain of other things which are indicative of an airborne infection.

The Body’s Response to Airborne Infection

Usually, when a body is attacked by airborne bacteria, it does its best to fend it off and most of the time, it succeeds. However, in some cases, the infection is too strong and takes over the body. The symptoms that we generally see in infections, such as fever, are really caused by the immune system to defend the body. In the elderly, the immune system is weaker because of age, so it can’t mount the same kind of offensive against infection that it used to.

MRSA, C diff and VRE

In addition, it is a good idea to keep a lookout for signs of infection in the elderly because of the emergence of superbugs like MRSA, Clostridium difficile and VRE. MRSA is Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus and can be diagnosed by getting a culture of body fluid—blood, urine or sputum. It can be treated with Vancomycin but a small amount of bacteria always remains in the body and can cause the infection to reoccur later.

Clostridium difficile or C diff and VRE or Vancomycin-resistant enterococci both occur when antibiotics kill off the beneficial bacteria in the digestive tract and cause harmful bacteria to proliferate. They lead to diarrhea, and treatment includes fluid intake to counteract dehydration, a bland diet and taking antibiotics that will allow the beneficial bacteria in the intestines to develop once again.

So the next time an elderly person complains of fatigue or disorientation, be sure to take them seriously as these could be the symptoms of an airborne infection.

Visit Novaerus.com more information about diagnosing and preventing infections in the elderly.