Veteran Bharatiya Janata Party leader and former Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani was admitted to a hospital in Delhi due to a chest infection, with hospital authorities reporting that his condition is stable under the care of medical specialists.

Veteran Bharatiya Janata Party leader and former Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani was admitted to a hospital in Delhi due to a chest infection, with hospital authorities reporting that his condition is stable under the care of medical specialists.

Veteran Bharatiya Janata Party leader and former Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani was admitted to a hospital in Delhi due to a chest infection, with hospital authorities reporting that his condition is stable under the care of medical specialists.

Veteran Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani (98) was hospitalised on Friday due to a chest infection. 

Hospital authorities said his condition is stable and he remains under observation by a team of specialists while medical tests are underway. 

This is not the first time the veteran leader is getting hospitalised. He was admitted to Apollo Hospital, Delhi, in May this year due to age-related health issues. For days, he remained under medical care before being discharged. 

How frequent and severe are chest infections among the elderly

In those aged 90 and above, chest infections (most commonly bacterial or viral pneumonia or severe acute bronchitis) can occur frequently and can rapidly become life-threatening. At this age, the body’s physiological reserves are significantly reduced, making even minor respiratory illnesses a major medical concern. The underlying issues during this period include:

*The natural age-related weakening of the immune system makes it harder to fight off viral or bacterial pathogens.

*Swallowing difficulties (dysphagia), weak cough reflexes, or lying flat for long periods can cause saliva, food, or fluid to enter the lungs, leading to aspiration pneumonia.

*Co-existing health conditions such as heart failure, COPD, asthma, structural lung changes, diabetes, or kidney disease increase vulnerability to recurrent lung inflammation.

*Reduced lung capacity and weaker respiratory muscles make it difficult to clear mucus completely, allowing bacteria to recolonise quickly after antibiotics finish.

How severe can it get? 

Any chest infection must be treated as potentially severe at the age of 98. 

*Atypical symptom presentation: Older adults often do not display classic signs like a high fever or severe cough. Instead, severe infection often manifests as sudden confusion/delirium, lethargy, decreased mobility, or loss of appetite.

*Sepsis: Chest infections are one of the most common causes of sepsis in older adults—a severe body-wide inflammatory response that can lead to rapid organ failure and low blood pressure.

*Respiratory failure: Weakened breathing muscles and fluid buildup in the air sacs (alveoli) can drastically drop blood oxygen levels (hypoxia), requiring supplemental oxygen or hospital admission.

*Cardiovascular strain: Severe lung infections put significant stress on the heart, potentially triggering heart failure or arrhythmias.

What are the warning signs?

*Breathing changes: Rapid breathing (tachypnea), gasping, grunting, or using neck/chest muscles to breathe.

*Cognitive changes: Sudden onset of confusion, disorientation, drowsiness, or unresponsiveness.

*Low oxygen levels: Pulse oximeter reading consistently below 92–94% (or below their normal baseline).

*Colour changes: Blue, grey, or pale discolouration around the lips, nails, or skin.

*Inability to stay hydrated/nourished: Complete refusal to take fluids or medicines, or visible choking/coughing while swallowing liquids.

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