Infectious emergencies in the elderly.

Emerg Med Clin North Am

Department of Emergency Medicine, Boston Medical Center, 1 Boston Medical Center Place, Dowling 1 South, Boston, MA 02188, USA.

Published: May 2006

AI Article Synopsis

  • As life expectancy increases, more elderly patients will visit emergency departments.
  • Emergency physicians play a crucial role in quickly diagnosing and treating these patients.
  • Infectious diseases in older adults are more common and harder to identify, leading to higher risks of severe outcomes compared to younger patients.

Article Abstract

As life expectancy continues to rise, the number of geriatric patients will increase and the percentages of geriatric patients seen in the emergency department will reflect those numbers. Emergency physicians are responsible for making immediate diagnoses and initiating expeditious treatment. Infectious diseases in the elderly are more prevalent, challenging to diagnose, and are associated with greater morbidity and mortality than with the younger patient population.

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Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.emc.2006.01.006DOI Listing

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