How Does The Flu Affect Older Adults?

Articles On Flu Concerns

Older adults and people with chronic diseases are more likely to have problems from the flu. It often leads to a hospital stay, and sometimes it can be fatal. But this condition is easy to prevent, and the proper steps can keep you healthy during flu season.

How Do You Know You Have It?

Flu symptoms in older adults are pretty much the same as in other age groups. They may include:

• Fever
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Aches and pains
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose

Does the Flu Cause Stomach Problems?

It’s more common in children, but older adults sometimes have stomach symptoms -- like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea -- with this illness.

What Other Problems Come With It?

The flu can lead to:

• Pneumonia
• Dehydration
• Worsening of chronic conditions such as asthma, emphysema, and heart disease

Call your doctor immediately if you have any of these symptoms:

• You have trouble breathing with the flu.
• Symptoms don't improve or get worse after 3 or 4 days.
• After flu symptoms improve, you suddenly develop signs of a more serious problem including nausea, vomiting, high fever, shaking chills, chest pain, or coughing with thick, yellow-green mucus.

Can You Prevent the Flu?

Yes. The best way to prevent it is to get an annual flu vaccine. Getting the shot is a smart idea. It makes a big difference in hospitalization and death rates among older adults who live at home and those in nursing homes.

A high-dose flu vaccine is made just for seniors. It has four times as much active ingredient as a regular flu shot to provide a better immune response in older people. It’s recommended for people ages 65 and older, if it's available.

Keep in mind that the seasonal flu viruses change each year, so older adults need to get a new flu shot each fall.

Also, there are two vaccines to prevent pneumonia. If you’re a healthy adult over age 65, the CDC suggests you get both vaccines. The timing and sequence will vary depending on what vaccine you’ve had before.

Where Do You Get a Flu Shot?

The CDC offers an online flu shot clinic locator. Flu vaccinations are easier to find than ever. You can get them at walk-in clinics in many pharmacies and grocery stores. That's in addition to local health departments and many doctors' offices.

Can Older Adults Use the Nasal Spray Flu Vaccine?

FluMist is a nasal spray flu vaccine that contains a live flu virus. It isn’t recommended for adults over age 49.

How Is Flu Treated?

Contact your doctor if you get symptoms. He’ll check for complications and suggest treatment. He might prescribe an antiviral medication like oseltamivir (Tamiflu), peramivir (Rapivab), zanamivir (Relenza), or baloxavir (Xofluza).

Other ways to treat flu symptoms in older adults include:

• Get lots of rest.
• Drink plenty of liquids.
• Ask the doctor or pharmacist before you take a new over-the-counter cold or flu medicine. He can make sure it won't interfere with prescription drugs or complicate your other medical conditions.

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