Introduction
Seasonal influenza is a dangerous disease that causes a great number of hospitalizations and deaths worldwide. The number of deaths in the USA caused by influenza-related healthcare complications ranges from 12,000 in 2011-2012 to 56,000 in 2013-2014 (CDC, 2016). Two specific populations most vulnerable to seasonal influenza in my community are young children and adults aged 65 or older. The purpose of this paper is to compare and contrast these two vulnerable populations and adapt the care plan to serve the needs of each group.
Commonalities and Differences in Young Children and Older Adults
Young children and older adults are two large and distinct populations within the community. Children aged five or younger typically live in families and are cared for by one or two parents. Potential places where children could get infected are kindergartens, healthcare facilities, and public transports. It is also possible for children to contract the virus from their parents at home. Depending on the socio-economic standing of the family, children may or may not have healthcare coverage (CDC, 2016).
Adults aged 65 or older typically live alone. They do not lead a very active lifestyle due to various disabilities associated with age. Some of these adults are homebound and need to be cared for by a relative, a nurse, or a social worker, while others retain a modicum of social mobility. Older adults may contract influenza while visiting healthcare facilities, using public transport, or contacting infected people on the streets or at home. Depending on the socio-economic position, older adults may or may not have full healthcare coverage (CDC, 2016).
Young children and older adults have weakened immune systems. Young children are prone to seasonal diseases such as influenza due to the fact that their immune system is still developing, and is not yet as strong that of an adult. The immune system in older patients, on the other hand, is undergoing decline, which puts older adults at a higher risk of acute viral infections (Simon, Hollander, & McMichael, 2015). According to CDC (2016), about 90% of deaths due to seasonal influenza occur in adults aged 65 or older.
Alterations to Plan of Care
A typical nurse care plan for influenza consists of several steps, which include dealing with the basic symptoms of the disease. These steps are (CDC, 2016):
- Preventive action
- Treating ineffective airway clearance
- Correcting ineffective breathing patterns
- Treating hyperthermia
- Treating acute pain
In the case of young children and older adults, a great emphasis has to be put on vaccinations, as it is much easier to prevent a disease than to treat it. This is especially true for older adults, who are at a greater risk of developing influenza-related healthcare complications (Simon et al. 2015). A plan of care for an older adult may include hospitalization or nursing visits at home, as it is likely for a homebound older adult to have no one else to assist them. Children, on the other hand, would have their parents or guardians to care for them. Both populations would have different medications prescribed to them based on the disease’s responsiveness. Depending on the patients’ socioeconomic standing, they may have to resort to cheaper medicines to treat the infection.
Conclusions
Influenza is a dangerous airborne disease that can affect all populations but is particularly dangerous to young children and older adults. 90% of all influenza-related deaths occur in patients aged 65 years or older. In both cases, vaccination has proven to be the most effective way of counteracting the disease. The nursing care plan and the prescribed list of medicines would vary from case to case, with an emphasis on hospitalization in older adults versus home care in younger patients.
References
CDC. (2016). People at high-risk of developing flu – related complications. Web.
Simon, K. A., Hollander, G. A., & McMichael, A. (2015). Evolution of the immune system in humans from infancy to old age. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 282(1821), 1-9.