Cold weather and seasonal flu go hand in hand, and while we have the groundhog to provide insight into the length of winter, no one can say for certain when the 2012-13 influenza season will taper off. In its most recent Flu View report, representing data obtained from Jan. 27 through Feb. 2, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explains that although flu activity remained high throughout the nation, most areas reported a decrease in new cases of the illness.
Older Adults Age 65 and Over Hit Hardest by 2012-13 Influenza Season
In reviewing the laboratory-confirmed influenza hospitalizations graph provided by the CDC, the number of hospitalizations for those age 65 and older are three times that of the next highest age group. Dr. Lyn Finelli, a flu expert at the CDC, explained to NBCNews.com that this flu season's rate of hospitalization for older adults is the highest it's been since the agency began gathering such data in 2005.
Speaking to the number of deaths among people age 65 and over as a result of influenza and/or pneumonia, Finelli stated , "The deaths are way over the epidemic threshold," and voiced the agency's concern about these older members of the population in regard to influenza and its potential complications.
Finelli explained that even older adults who consider themselves generally fit and healthy have the potential to develop life-threatening complications from influenza due to underlying conditions.
CDC Recommendations to Prevent, Treat Influenza in those Age 65 and Older
The CDC continues to recommend that anyone age 6 months and older receive the flu vaccination. This is particularly important for baby boomers and seniors age 65 and older due to the increased risk of complications from influenza in this age group.
There are two vaccines available to those 65 years-of-age and older; the regular dose vaccination and a high-dose vaccination. The CDC does not prefer one of these types over the other. In theory, the high-dose vaccine is intended to provide a stronger immune response, but whether that occurs in reality is dependent on many factors. Talk with your health care provider to learn which vaccine he recommends.
If you suspect you have the flu -- sudden onset of symptoms, cough, sore throat, fever or feverish with chills, tiredness, runny or stuffy nose, muscle/body aches -- contact your health care provider immediately. You need not have all of the symptoms, and may not have a fever and still be ill with the flu.
There are two anti-viral medications your health care provider can prescribe, but they work best when taken within 48 hours of the symptoms first appearing. These anti-viral medications are intended to reduce the severity of the illness and potentially to prevent complications of influenza.
Research Finds that Older Adults Have Different and Fewer Antibodies Than Younger People
The peer-reviewed medical journal Science Translational Medicine published the results of research into the understanding of the antibody responses in older adults. The antibody response is the body's method of fighting infection and also the portion of the system that develops a protective response following vaccination. Not only do older adults have fewer antibodies than their younger cohorts, but they have different types of antibodies. The number and types of antibodies decreases with age.
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