Aspiration can also occur while a person is having surgery under anesthesia. The stomach contents can travel up to the mouth, then down through the windpipe and into the lungs. This is why doctors often ask people to fast before having a surgical procedure. Anesthetists also take precautions to prevent aspiration, such as by protecting the airways with intubation after administering anesthesia.
Most people occasionally aspirate something into their lungs, and certain issues can increase this risk. A cross-sectional study investigated risk factors for aspiration in people who had experienced at least one stroke.
The research indicated that participants with any of the following conditions were seven times more likely to develop aspiration:. Aspiration can introduce harmful foreign bodies or substances into the lungs, which can create additional problems. For example, when a person aspirates something that contains harmful bacteria into the lungs, this can lead to infection and inflammation , which characterize a condition called aspiration pneumonia. Although there is no infection, chemical pneumonia causes inflammation and symptoms similar to those of aspiration pneumonia.
A study reviewed the medical records of children who underwent endoscopy after having symptoms of aspiration. The researchers found that 49 of these children had aspirated fragments of nuts or seeds.
Risk factors for aspiration in children can include :. Treatment options for children with chronic aspiration can include GERD medications, speech or occupational therapy, and surgery. Aspiration does not always require medical treatment. However, if any of the following symptoms arise, call or go to the emergency room:.
Symptoms of aspiration do not always present themselves immediately — they may take hours or days to develop. In some instances, treatment is unnecessary. If an object, such as a piece of food, is still in the lungs, the doctor may recommend a bronchoscopy. Overt aspiration will usually cause sudden, noticeable symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, or a hoarse voice.
Silent aspiration tends to occur in people with impaired senses. In these cases, drooling or changes in the sound of their breathing and talking may be clues of swallowing difficulties. Make an appointment with the doctor if you or someone you know experiences these symptoms after eating, drinking, vomiting, or an episode of heartburn, especially if they:.
Aspiration increases your risk for aspiration pneumonia. Too much liquid in your lungs can also result in a pulmonary edema , which puts a strain on your lungs. People with health problems that affect swallowing are at a higher risk for aspirating. These health conditions include:. Older adults are also more likely to have a condition known as dysphagia , which is difficulty swallowing.
Children who aspirate have an increased risk for dehydration, malnutrition, weight loss, and other illnesses. Aspiration in children may get better over time, depending on the cause. Treating the cause will often improve aspiration.
In severe and high-risk cases, your child may need a feeding tube to ensure they get enough nutrition until their condition improves. Talk to your doctor if you think your child has problems with aspiration. If there are no symptoms, they may do a modified barium swallow test, which looks at your esophagus.
Your doctor will ask you to swallow a liquid that shows up on the X-ray to help them determine whether you have any underlying swallowing disorders. Your doctor may also ask about other potential symptoms such as fever or chest pain to look for signs of pneumonia or pulmonary edema.
These include:. Pulmonologist Bohdan Pichurko, MD, explains this phenomenon, known as aspiration. Learn more about vaccine availability. Advertising Policy. You have successfully subscribed to our newsletter. Related Articles. What to Do and How to Find Relief. Instead, doctors may suggest oxygen therapy, assistance from a breathing machine or clearing the foreign body from the airways using a bronchoscope.
Other potential complications that can occur as a result of foreign body aspiration include: [2] [4] [28] [33] [34].
Good to know: Injury to the abdomen and ribs is sometimes caused by the delivery of abdominal thrusts. People who receive abdominal thrusts may require further examination by a doctor to rule out any internal injuries, such as rib fractures or tears to the stomach.
Q: What are the main symptoms of foreign body aspiration? A: When a person experiences an obstructed airway due to inhaling a foreign object, they may experience some or all of the following symptoms:.
The severity of the symptoms depends on the size, nature and location of the inhaled object. In mild cases, the affected person may move into an asymptomatic phase, where no symptoms are present despite the object still being settled in the airways. However, this stage is usually temporary, and symptoms that may arise after a period of time include recurrent coughing, fever and difficulty swallowing.
Q: Can a foreign body be aspirated into the lungs? A: Yes. An object inhaled into the airways can cause an obstruction in the bronchi, which are the two passageways that deliver air into the lungs. Q: What treatment options are there for removal of a foreign body? First aid can often be administered during a choking episode, by encouraging the affected person to cough or by delivering back blows and abdominal thrusts.
If medical help is required to remove the foreign body, the most common treatment method is a bronchoscopy. This is usually performed under general anesthetic and entails a long, thin tube called a bronchoscope, being inserted into the airways to access the respiratory tract and remove the foreign body. In rare cases, surgery may be necessary. Q: What are the after effects of choking?
A: Choking is a serious and potentially life-threatening condition that requires immediate intervention. However, if the foreign object is successfully removed from the airways, usually no further medical attention is needed. If any signs of further irritation do occur, such as persistent coughing, pain or discomfort, medical attention should be sought. Q: Does foreign body aspiration happen to both children and adults?
A: Yes, anyone at any age can accidentally inhale a foreign body into the airways. However, the condition is most common in children under the age of three years old. Q: What is the difference between foreign body aspiration and foreign body ingestion? The two conditions have completely different symptoms, treatments and complications. Read more about Foreign Body Ingestion ». Accessed 14 January British Medical Journal. Accessed 18 January Family Practice Notebook.
US National Library of Medicine. Accessed 17 January MSD Manual. National Health Service. Medline Plus. This website meets the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information. What is foreign body aspiration? This usually results in an obstruction of a specific area of the respiratory tract, such as: [1] The larynx.
Also known as the voice box, the larynx is part of the throat and located in the neck The trachea. Also known as the windpipe, the trachea connects the larynx to the bronchi The bronchi. Two passageways, each individually known as a bronchus, which carry air from the trachea into the lungs Foreign bodies that are commonly aspirated are usually small in size and can be either an edible item, such as a nut or raisin, or a non-edible item such as a coin or marble.
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