COVID-19 fatal to elderly with existing illness

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Sept. 9 (PIA) -- Seven of the eight coronavirus disease (COVID-19) casualties in Bohol are older adults.

The oldest case is an 89-year old male from Calape, followed by a 79-year old female from Bien Unido, a 76-year old female from Calape, a 68-year old male from Danao, a 64-year old female from San Miguel, a 59-year old from Talibon, and a 43-year old male from Trinidad. 

The lone COVID-19 death whose age is below 40 is a two-year old male from Buenavista, who was also suffering from hydrocephalus.

The 89-year old patient who was admitted at the Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital (GCGMH) for myocardial infarction was found to have an attendant pneumonia before he was brought to the hospital.

The 79-year old female from Bien Unido had been on dialysis treatment, was diabetic and had severe cough attendant to pneumonia and was brought to the Pres. Carlos P. Garcia Memorial Hospital (PCPGMH) in Talibon, one of the two COVID-19 dedicated hospitals in Bohol, according to Bien Unido Information Officer Manuelito Item. 

The 76-year old female from Calape, according to Calape Information Officer Nicolas Sendrijas, had peptic ulcer when she was brought to GCGMH.

After she was discharged from the hospital, she had fever and was rushed back to the hospital where she tested positive for COVID-19. 

The 68-year old male casualty from Danao was brought to the GCGMH in Tagbilaran for community-acquired pneumonia, according to reports.

Meanwhile, in the San Miguel case, the casualty was a 64-year-old female who used to watch over her husband when the latter was hospitalized in Ubay but had to go home due to ill health.

Going for a medical check-up at the San Miguel Infirmary, the woman was found to have severe pneumonia before getting the virus and succumbed to it, based on reports from the local infirmary. 

The 59-year old male in Talibon, who came from Brgy. Guindacpan, had type 2 diabetes mellitus when he was brought to the PCPGMH in Talibon where he died of COVID-19. 

As to the Trinidad case, the 43-year old patient had severe coughing when he was brought to PCPGMH where he died of COVID-19.

The data shows what the Department of Health (DOH) has been reiterating that older adults with underying medical conditions such as lung diseases, heart ailments, or diabetes face a greater risk of developing more serious complications from COVID-19. 

According to medical professionals, as one advances in age, the body’s immune response also falters and getting exposed to pathogens could put their bodies under unnecessary strain.

This would worsen if the patient who is an older adult has pre-existing medical problems that has kept the body’s immune system busy, experts said. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)

SOCIALIZING. One of the reasons older adults appeal to come out from home quarantine is for them to socialize, but data in Bohol showed that older adults, especially those with underlying medical conditions, need to be extra cautious against contracting the virus as their auto-immune system is compromised. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)