RSV AND OLDER ADULTS
Being an older adult can put you at increased risk for severe infections from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) (1)
While you may be doing everything you can to stay healthy, the immune system typically weakens with older age, and has a harder time fighting off infections, such as those from RSV.(1)
While RSV infections are typically mild, there is still a possibility it could pose a severe threat, especially in older adults.(1)
Part of that severe threat is that RSV infection can cause serious complications, such as exacerbation of congestive heart failure (CHF), asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD) in older adults.(2)
In older adults, RSV is a significant cause of pneumonia and other severe lower respiratory tract complications. RSV can cause severe infections that may lead to hospitalization in adults aged 60 and older and adults living with certain underlying conditions like CHF, asthma, and COPD (3)
RSV infection can have long-term effects on older adults (5)
RSV can diminish your independence, even after recovery. For older adults, certain daily tasks can become challenging after recovering from RSV infection,(6) such as:
Eating
Washing
Walking
Breathing