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by Cathy A. Alessi, MD, Geriatric Research,
Education and Clinical Center, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare
System, UCLA Multicampus Program in Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology
Receiving an influenza vaccination once
a year is the best way to prevent the flu. Research studies
have shown that the influenza vaccination cuts down on the number
of hospitalizations and deaths from influenza in older people.
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Q. What is influenza?
A. Influenza
(also called the flu) is an infection caused by the influenza
virus. There are two types of influenza viruses, influenza
A and influenza B, yet both viruses may cause similar symptoms.
Influenza usually begins with a sudden fever, chills, sore
muscles and a dry cough, as well as a sore throat, headache,
weakness and loss of appetite. Some older people may experience
confusion when they have the flu. These symptoms usually
improve over a few days, but older people may feel weak
for a couple of weeks following the illness.
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Q. What is pneumonia?
A. Pneumonia
is an infection in the lungs that can be quite serious. In some
cases, it is caused by the influenza virus, or by another virus,
but more often it is caused by a bacterial infection such as Streptococcus
pneumoniae. Common symptoms of pneumonia caused by bacteria are
fever, a cough that brings up phlegm, and trouble breathing. Pneumonia
symptoms often set in once a person is recovering from the flu
and may be feeling better. Older people with pneumonia may experience
confusion, and may not have a fever when they get pneumonia. Usually
the pneumonia can be seen on a chest x-ray.
Q. How serious are
influenza and pneumonia?
A. Both influenza
and pneumonia can be very serious in older people. When an older
person has the flu, it may take a couple of weeks or longer to
feel better. Influenza can cause pneumonia, either from the influenza
virus itself or from a bacteria infection that starts because
the person is weakened from influenza. Pneumonia caused by bacteria
can be very serious, especially in older people who have other
illnesses (such as diabetes, emphysema, heart failure or cancer)
that make it harder for their bodies to recover from the pneumonia.
Q. Can I prevent myself
from getting influenza and pneumonia?
A. Receiving
an influenza vaccination once a year is the best way to prevent
the flu. Research studies have shown that the influenza vaccination
cuts down on the number of hospitalizations and deaths from influenza
in older people. In the US, it is best to get an influenza vaccination
a few weeks before the start of the flu season, usually in October.
You should still get the vaccination, even if you miss it in October.
Prescribed medications that fight the influenza virus may also
help prevent influenza when there is an outbreak. Another preventive
measure is to avoid close contact with people who have the flu.
The pneumonia vaccination is a different vaccination that helps
protect you from Streptococcus pneumoniae. It should be given
to everyone aged 65 years and older, and people aged 50 and older
should get one if they have illnesses that make them more likely
to become seriously ill from pneumonia (such as diabetes, emphysema,
kidney problems and heart failure).
Q. How often should
the influenza and pneumonia vaccinations be repeated?
A. Because
the influenza virus changes from year-to-year, you should receive
the vaccination each year-usually in the fall-before flu season
begins. The pneumonia vaccination (also called pneumococcal vaccine)
is generally given once in a person's lifetime, regardless of
age; however, if you received your first pneumococcal vaccination
before age 65, and if it has been five or more years since that
time, a second vaccination should be given.
Q. Do antibiotics help
fight influenza and pneumonia?
A. Most regular
antibiotics do not help treat influenza; however, there are specific
antibiotics that fight the influenza virus. Your health care provider
may prescribe these for you if an outbreak of influenza occurs
where you live, especially if you live in a nursing home. Pneumonia
caused by bacteria is generally treated with an antibiotic. Your
health care provider will prescribe the one that best fights the
bacteria causing your pneumonia. It is important to take all of
the antibiotics prescribed by your health care provider, even
if you no longer feel sick. Hospitalization for pneumonia is usually
not necessary, so long as you have someone who can look in on
you. More serious cases of pneumonia, however, may require hospitalization
for treatment with intravenous (IV) antibiotics.
Q. Should I contact
my health care provider if I think I have influenza or pneumonia?
A. You should
contact your health care provider if you are concerned that you
have the flu, or if you do not feel better after a few days. It
is better to confront the illness early on, rather than waiting
until you become very sick. If you think you have pneumonia, you
should contact your health care provider so he or she can decide
the best treatment. In particular, you should contact him or her
if you have a fever (especially if it is greater than 100 degrees
Fahrenheit by mouth or if your temperature is two degrees higher
or more than usual). But remember that some older people do not
have a fever when they get pneumonia, even though they may have
a serious infection. You should also contact your health care
provider if you are not able to drink liquids because of your
illness. You should contact your health care provider right away
(or go to an emergency room) if you have shaking chills, trouble
breathing or fast breathing, or if you feel confused.
Q. How can I find out
more information about influenza and pneumonia?
A.
National Coalition for Adult Immunization
4733 Bethesda Avenue, Suite 750 n Bethesda, MD 20814-5228
Phone:(301) 656-0003 n Fax: (301) 907-0878
E-mail: adultimm@aol.com n Website: www.medscape.com/NCAI
CDC National Immunization Information Hotline
Phone: (800) 232-2522 (English Service) n Phone: (800) 232-0233
(Spanish Service)
Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m. Eastern Time
National Institute on Aging
PO Box 8057 n Gaithersburg, MD 20898-8057
Phone: (800) 222-2225 or (800) 222-4225 (TTY)
Website: http://www.nih.gov/nia
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