SEVERE PNEUMONIA IN THE ELDERLY

The elderly are more susceptible to pneumonia and more likely to die from this infection than younger populations. Older patients with pneumonia requiring hospitalization are more likely to develop complications necessitating longer hospital stays. This article focuses on features of common lower respiratory tract infections and physiologic and immunologic characteristics of elderly patients that might obscure classic clinical presentation of pneumonia. Treatment factors unique to elderly patients with severe pneumonia are also discussed.