title: Altered host response and special infections in the elderly.
abstract: Infection remains one of the most common causes for Emergency Department evaluation and hospital admission in the elderly. Unfortunately, aged individuals may not manifest the typical symptoms and signs as their younger counterparts. The emergency physician must recognize that the elderly individual may exhibit a less vigorous physiologic response to infectious states, which can delay or make diagnosis difficult. This article attempts to explain the apparent dysfunctions in the elderly that places this important population at greater risk for certain infections.
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Plewa
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000276:immunology; D017053:Infection Control; D007239:Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D007136:Immunoglobulins