Why Are Pneumococcal Pneumonia Infections So Dangerous in Nursing Homes

question 90

Multiple Choice

Why are pneumococcal pneumonia infections so dangerous in nursing homes?

• A) There is a vaccine for protecting children against pneumococcal pneumonia but no vaccine available for protection of older adults.
• B) There is no longer an antibiotic effective against the infection, and older adults are unable to fight the infection without medication.
• C) This type of pneumonia causes permanent lung damage, and old people often have impaired lung function in the first place.
• D) The immune system of older people is usually impaired, leaving them predisposed to more serious and potentially life-threatening pneumonia.
• E) This question is misleading. Pneumococcal infections are not dangerous.

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Definitions:

Bulimia Nervosa

An eating disorder characterized by episodes of binge eating followed by inappropriate methods of weight control, such as vomiting or excessive exercise.

Caucasians

A term historically used to refer to people of European descent, though it is considered outdated and imprecise in describing ethnic or racial identities.

Anorexia Nervosa

An eating disorder characterized by an obsessive fear of gaining weight and a refusal to maintain a healthy body weight.

Partial-syndrome Eating Disorders

A category of eating disorders that do not fully meet the criteria for anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa but still pose significant health risks and distress.