Every time the weather gets chilly, health advice heavily focuses on keeping children safe from chest infections. Public health conversations rarely address how these same conditions affect older adults.
As November marks Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Awareness Month, it is time to remember that ageing lungs need close attention.
Pneumonia is an infection that inflames the air sacs in the lungs. For a healthy young adult, it usually means a few weeks of rest and medication.
For anyone over 65 or individuals living with diabetes, heart conditions and asthma, it is a much bigger threat. The long-term impact is severe.
A 2022 peer-reviewed study published in the Pan African Medical Journal explored this reality. The researchers note that following an episode of pneumococcal pneumonia, the mortality is increased for up to 10 years.
The hidden symptoms
People usually expect a deep cough, high fever and chest pain. Older parents do not always show these signs.
Because the immune system changes over time, an older adult with pneumonia might actually have a lower body temperature instead of a fever.
The earliest warning signs are often entirely different. Sudden confusion, extreme tiredness, physical weakness and a loss of appetite are major red flags.
Families easily mistake these subtle changes for normal ageing or general fatigue. Missing these signs delays crucial medical treatment.
The respiratory connection
Conditions like Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease make things worse. They damage the airways, making it hard to breathe and clear out mucus.
This creates a perfect environment for bacteria to multiply. The World Health Organization warns that pneumococcal infections can lead to serious invasive diseases such as meningitis, septicaemia and pneumonia.
Adult vaccination in Kenya
Childhood vaccines are standard in Kenyan hospitals, but adult immunisation is largely ignored.
Families can access the PCV13 and PPSV23 vaccines locally. These injections protect against the main bacterial strains that cause the infection.
Medical doctors advise that adults over 65, along with younger people managing chronic health issues, get vaccinated.
Protecting older relatives starts with paying attention to small health changes and asking health facilities about adult vaccines.