Age<\/a> is another significant factor determining whether or not a person receives pneumonia during a viral or bacterial infection. Young children and seniors might be at the opposite end of the age spectrum, but they share some interesting similarities.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\nBoth infants and seniors suffer from low immune function. In infants, the gastrointestinal system has yet to form. Therefore, the infant’s immune response will remain low until they are at least a year or two old. During this developmental period, medical professionals must vaccinate the child against viral and bacterial pneumococcal pathogens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As we age, the health of our immune system starts to decline. People who are in their 60s and 70s will experience a gradual drop in immune health due to a lack of protein synthesis. The older we get, the lower the immune response. As a result, many seniors struggle with getting over the flu or another bacterial infection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It’s also for this reason that seniors are more likely to develop pneumonia as a complication from other respiratory diseases, such as bronchitis or influenza.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n