Why Respiratory Infections Last Longer as We Age

A cough that used to clear in a few days now lingers for weeks. A chest infection leaves you feeling breathless long after the fever is gone. Even a “minor” respiratory infection seems to knock you out more than it used to.

Respiratory infections can behave differently as we get older. What once felt like a brief interruption can now leave behind lingering effects that influence energy levels, breathing, and day-to-day function long after the acute illness has passed.

To understand why this happens, it helps to examine the gradual changes that occur in the body with age and how they influence recovery from respiratory infections.

Key Takeaways

• As we age, the immune system becomes less efficient at clearing respiratory infections, which is why coughs and chest infections often take longer to fully resolve.
• RSV is a common but often overlooked respiratory virus in adults, and a cause of lingering chest infections rather than short-lived cold symptoms.
• Taking a preventive approach, including RSV vaccination, can help reduce the severity of illness and the risk of prolonged recovery and complications.

When Recovery from Respiratory Symptoms Slows with Age

Many adults assume a lingering cough is simply part of getting older. However, persistent symptoms are often linked to deeper changes in how the immune system functions with age.

Why Persistent Coughs Are More Common with Age

As we age, the ageing immune system becomes less efficient, making it harder for the body to clear respiratory viruses effectively, leading to longer recovery times and more persistent symptoms. The infection itself may pass, but inflammation in the airways can linger, leading to weeks of coughing, chest tightness, or ongoing fatigue. This means longer chest infection recovery time, disrupted sleep, and reduced stamina that can linger well beyond the initial illness.

However, slower immune recovery is only part of the picture. Continued exposure to circulating respiratory viruses can further prolong recovery.

Why Repeated Exposure Makes Recovery Harder

Exposure to respiratory viruses does not pause. Work, public transport, family gatherings, and travel all increase contact with circulating viruses. Without enough time for full recovery between infections, each respiratory infection can feel heavier than the last, placing cumulative strain on the lungs.

Among these viruses, RSV has become an increasingly recognised cause of prolonged respiratory illness in older adults.

Understanding RSV in Adults

Age-related changes are also why viruses such as RSV become a more relevant concern for adults in Singapore. RSV commonly affects the airways and is a cause of lingering coughs and chest infections. In older adults, it is more likely to trigger prolonged inflammation and slower recovery, rather than presenting as a short-lived cold.

What the RSV virus does

Respiratory syncytial virus, commonly known as RSV, is a respiratory virus that affects people of all ages. RSV virus in adults can cause lower respiratory tract infections, including bronchitis and pneumonia, rather than just mild cold symptoms.

Why RSV Symptoms in Adults Are Often Underestimated

RSV symptoms in adults may include persistent cough, wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and fatigue. Because these symptoms overlap with other respiratory infections, RSV is often overlooked as a cause of prolonged illness.

Why RSV can lead to more severe or prolonged illness

In older adults and those with chronic conditions, RSV places additional strain on the lungs at a time when recovery is already slower. This increases the likelihood of complications, prolonged recovery, and hospital admission, particularly when RSV presents as a chest or lung infection rather than a mild illness.

For many adults, the concern is not just about catching RSV, but how hard it can be to recover from it. This is where prevention becomes increasingly important, especially for older adults who may struggle with prolonged recovery.

If you are concerned about a cough that is not clearing or find that respiratory infections are taking longer to recover from, a conversation with a Healthway Medical GP can help you understand what may be contributing to your symptoms.

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What RSV Vaccination Does

What is RSV Vaccination?

RSV vaccination is designed to help protect adults from RSV related respiratory illness. It does not prevent all infections, but it helps reduce the severity of illness and the risk of complications.

Who Should Consider RSV Vaccination

RSV vaccination may be considered for

• Adults aged 60 and above
• Adults with chronic heart, lung, or immune related conditions
• Individuals who experience prolonged recovery from respiratory infections
• Adults who wish to reduce their risk of severe chest or lung infections

How RSV Vaccination Helps Reduce Severity and Complications

By strengthening the body’s immune response, RSV vaccination helps lower the risk of severe illness and reduces the chance of RSV progressing into a more serious chest or lung infection that may require hospital care.

Taking a preventive approach to respiratory health can help reduce the impact of infections over time. RSV vaccination is available at Healthway Medical clinics, offering an option to help protect against more severe or prolonged respiratory illness.

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Frequently asked questions

Below are some common questions adults have about RSV and RSV vaccination in Singapore.