A recent study found that daily contact with young children increases the risk of elderly adults acquiring pneumonia-causing bacteria. Streptococcus pneumonia, or pneumococcus, is associated with severe diseases like pneumonia and meningitis and is responsible for millions of deaths worldwide annually. Pneumococcal pneumonia leads to many hospitalizations in the US, affecting both children and adults. The study conducted in New Haven, Connecticut, showed that older adults who have frequent contact with children are six times more likely to be colonized with pneumococcal bacteria. Researchers suggest vaccinating elderly adults to reduce transmission and serious illness, despite high vaccination rates in children.
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Daily Contact With Young Children Increases Pneumonia Risk In Elderly Adults: Study
