Ever experienced a sudden burst of cough when you swallowed something – yes, the cough is because the food accidently went into the wrong pipe down the throat. And the cough is a reflex reaction to make things right.
This accidental inhalation of non-air substance into the respiratory tract can cause Aspiration Pneumonia when the said substance is not cleared. This non-air substance can be food, saliva, stomach contents, foreign objects (yes, can happen!) which carries bacteria that can damage the lungs. Lungs in healthy individual usually clears the bacteria and Aspirational Pneumonia sets-in when that doesn’t happen. This can result in chest pain, fatigue, bad breath, excessive sweating or wheezing. Fever and even death in few cases (10-30%).
Remember we said how a simple miss-swallow can result in all the above. That’s is not just about it. There are so many ways a person can end up having Aspiration Pneumonia according to best lung transplant surgeon in Hyderabad, Dr Gokhale. Read on to know about them along with the symptoms, aspirational pneumonia treatment in Hyderabad in this blog today:
What causes Aspiration Pneumonia?
An accidental miss-swallow can happen in many ways in an individual. The risk factors that increase the chance of happening include:
- Intoxication due to large amounts of alcohol.
- Drugs that make you inebriated or less alert
- Reduced alertness due to medication
- Old age or coma.
- Poor gag reflex can happen due to brain injury or stroke can cause
It is to be noted that the main cause of Aspirational Pneumonia is the food that ends up going to the wrong pipe. It can happen due to any of the above reasons, In addition to the above this can also happen due to neurological disorders, throat cancer, and oesophageal disorders, dental problems that interfere with swallowing or chewing.
What symptoms does Aspirational Pneumonia show up?
Problems swallowing (obviously), excessive sweating, wheezing, fatigue, shortness of breath, coughing up phlegm or even blood, and chest pain. Anyone with these symptoms must contact doctor as early as possible. It is particularly critical for elder adults above age 60 and kids below age of 3.
Diagnosis & Aspiration Pneumonia Treatment:
After noting the signs and symptoms, a doctor enquire about medical history and conducts physical examination. Abnormal breath sounds and crackle-like sounds are inspected using stethoscope and if pneumonia is suspected chest x-ray is ordered along with other tests like Bronchoscopy, Blood culture, Sputum culture-ray, CT, Arterial blood gas and Swallowing tests.
“Aspiration Pneumonia treatment depends upon the severity of the symptoms and the patient overall health. Antibiotics are commonly used to clear out the infection caused by the Pneumonia. In few cases patients may need prolonged hospitalization to ensure adequate blood levels during the treatment. In case the patient is having swallowing difficulties, doctors may recommend assisted feeding methods to avoid furthers cases of pneumonia”, says the best lung transplant surgeon in Hyderabad Dr Alla Gopala Krishna Gokhale.
Got more queries about Aspiration Pneumonia? Padma Shri awardee Dr Alla Gopala Krishna Gokhale is the best lung specialist in Hyderabad with excellent track record in Aspiration Pneumonia treatment. You can contact him here: @Call 9603040506
