[Infectious diseases and pneumonias in advanced age in morbidity statistics]

Based on the new statistics of diagnoses from over 7 700 000 cases each year of the Swiss Hospital Association it can be demonstrated that all infectious diseases can also occur in the older age up of 65 years. Statistical data are given for each single infection. The morbidity of old people is rarely seized in contrary to mortality. The Swiss morbidity statistic shows that older persons are concerned in over 50% by pneumonia and herpes zoster, in 25-45% by septicemias, erysipelas and pulmonary tuberculosis, in only 1 until few percent by the classical children infections. The morbidity shows yearly considerable fluctuations depending on local epidemics (p.e. influenza), on the preexistent immunity (p.x. vaccinations) and the lesser resistance by risk factors of the individuals.