Aspiration pneumonia typically occurs once a foreign object such as vomit, fluid or food is inhaled into the lungs and triggers the development of an infection.
What are the symptoms?
The signs and symptoms of aspiration pneumonia are somewhat similar to the symptoms of other types of pneumonia but there are distinct differences to note. The symptoms include the following:
- Chest pain
- Fever
- Cough with foul smelling mucus that contains blood or pus or greenish in appearance
- Wheezing
- Shortness of breath
- Bluish or grayish skin color due to insufficient oxygen
- Difficulty swallowing
- Fatigue or exhaustion
- Excessive sweating
- Foul smelling breath
It is important to note that aspiration pneumonia often develop among individuals who already have existing health issues.
Possible causes
Aspiration pneumonia is triggered by inhalation of foreign materials into the lungs such as food, vomit or liquids. The foreign material will cause inflammation in the airways and an infection in the lungs due to the presence of bacteria that are not supposed to be there.
This type of pneumonia rarely occurs in healthy children and adults but can be a serious issue for high risk groups such as the following:
- Elderly
- Individuals with swallowing difficulties
- Individuals who drink alcoholic beverages heavily
- Those under coma
- Individuals with esophagus disorders
- Those under anesthesia
- Individuals with reduced level of alertness or mental state due to brain injury or stroke
- Individuals taking medications that lowers the level of alertness
Management of aspiration pneumonia
Individuals who are diagnosed with aspiration pneumonia require hospitalization, depending on the severity of the infection. The doctor will perform a physical exam along with other tests to diagnose the condition. In most cases, a chest X-ray and blood test are requested, but other tests might be needed.
If the pneumonia is bacterial in nature, antibiotics are prescribed. The breathing treatments are commonly started to allow easy breathing. Remember that the specific course of treatment is based on the cause of the infection, symptoms, how advanced it is and overall health of the individual.
What are the possible complications?
Always bear in mind that the complications of aspiration pneumonia can be serious and deadly. These usually depend on the overall health of the individual as well as the severity of the condition when it was diagnosed. Some of the possible complications include the following:
- Low blood pressure
- Lung abscess
- Shock
- Blood infection
- Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
- Spreading infection to other body parts
- Respiratory failure
- Death
Preventive measures
The ideal way to prevent aspiration pneumonia is to be aware of who are at risk and reduce those risks. Individuals who have swallowing difficulty must be closely monitored while eating or seek therapy to improve the swallowing ability effectively. In some cases, speech therapists that specialize on feeding can help.
As much as possible, do not binge drink. Drinking excessively that can cause an individual to pass out or black out is a big risk factor for aspiration pneumonia among young individuals.
Those who are at risk for this type of pneumonia should undergo evaluation regularly. Remember that the signs might be subtle in some who have other health issues. Once you suspect an individual has aspiration pneumonia, seek medical care right away.