Illness in the older person

Abstract

The health problems people commonly experience tend to reflect the age group they currently occupy. For example, mumps, measles and chickenpox are known as ‘childhood infectious diseases’, while young men in particular are frequent accident victims, and many women in mid-life suffer from gynaecological problems. But in all these age groups, the conditions tend to be acute: they often arise suddenly, usually respond quickly to treatment, and frequently leave the person with few if any long-lasting aftereffects.