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Influenza in the elderly
Last reviewed: 07.07.2025
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Influenza in elderly people causes the greatest number of complications, and it is quite difficult to treat, since the immune system of people after 59 years is noticeably weakened. How does influenza in elderly people differ from influenza in people of other age categories?
Features of flu in the elderly
The cough reflex is much weaker in older people. Therefore, their respiratory organs are damaged more than in younger people. In addition, due to the low resistance of the body to infections, it is much more difficult for older people to fight the flu and its consequences than for young people and even small children.
People over 60 are much more likely to develop pneumonia, bronchitis and tonsillitis than younger people. And those who are already 85 years old have a significantly higher risk of developing complications from the flu – they are in first place in terms of the risk of complications after this disease, and in second place are people over 75. Third place in terms of the risk of complications after the flu is in children under four years old.
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How does flu manifest itself in older people?
The flu manifests itself in much the same way as in other people, but it is much more difficult for older people to cope with the flu - the body no longer serves them as faithfully as before, the work of many organs, including the immune system, is partially impaired.
Flu Symptoms in the Elderly
- High temperature
- General weakening of the whole organism
- Chills
- Headache and muscle pain
- Increased fatigue
- Poor sleep, often insomnia, a person wakes up exhausted, with a headache
- Severe fatigue that lasts up to three weeks
- Chest pressure, cough, runny nose
- Dry throat and nose
- Difficulty breathing
- These symptoms may be accompanied by vomiting and diarrhea.
Complications after influenza in the elderly
These complications may not manifest themselves immediately, but this does not make them any less difficult to bear. Sometimes, in particularly difficult cases, several complications occur at once, for example, bronchitis and tonsillitis. Also, symptoms of old chronic diseases that previously bothered a person and now have returned after or with the onset of the flu may worsen.
- Dehydration of the whole body
- Different types of tonsillitis
- Pneumonia
- Bronchitis
- Tracheitis
- Laryngitis
- Rhinitis
- Deterioration of kidney, heart and vascular function
If an elderly person shows signs of exacerbation or the flu has become very difficult to bear, it is necessary to consult a doctor immediately. This can save a person's life.
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How to properly treat flu in the elderly?
Treatment of flu in elderly people is not limited to pharmaceutical drugs. To eliminate dehydration and eliminate toxins, you need to drink more warm liquid (but not carbonated). These can be compotes, decoctions, teas, mineral water without gas, fruit drinks.
In addition, you need to protect yourself from stress - it is destructive for a weakened body, and it also undermines the functioning of the nervous and immune systems.
In old age, almost all people take some medications. Therefore, you need to make sure that these medications are normally combined with drugs for the prevention of influenza or for its treatment. Only your doctor can give you such advice.
The best drugs for the elderly that eliminate flu symptoms at the initial stage are Relenza (zanamivir) or Tamiflu (oseltamivir). If you take these drugs (one of them) within two days after you have identified flu symptoms, the disease will significantly shorten its course and will be much easier to bear than without treatment.
Flu in older people can be prevented if they take good care of their health. But if you are already sick, see a doctor immediately, because in this case, time is everything.
How to prevent flu in older adults?
If a young person can easily cope with the flu after a week of illness, then for an elderly person this disease can be fatal. Or it is quite difficult to cope with. Every day of our relatives is very valuable to us, and we do not want them to suffer. Therefore, it is very important to help the elderly protect themselves from the flu.
The best way to protect yourself from the flu is to get vaccinated every year.
As practice shows, vaccinations that are correctly selected and given at the right time and in the right way reduce the risk of contracting the flu by 80%. As studies show, vaccinations in older people can reduce mortality due to the flu in almost 90% of cases, and the possibility of hospitalization - up to 70%. These are very large numbers. Behind them are many human lives.
It is advisable to have a pneumococcal vaccination, as well as a seasonal flu vaccine. They can be done at the same time if the person does not suffer from any acute illnesses at that time. The best time for vaccination is before the onset of annual flu epidemics, October-November.
But if a person has not managed to do this, it is not a big deal. You can give him a flu vaccine later. If he is not infected with the virus, the incubation period of which is from one to five days, the vaccine will do a good deed. The elderly person will not get the flu throughout the year. The vaccine usually takes effect two weeks after its administration.