Aspiration pneumonia is also called anaerobic pneumonia, necrotizing pneumonia and aspiration of vomitus. This condition is an inflammation of lungs and bronchial tubes which is caused by inhaling foreign substances. Inhaling foreign substances into lungs can result in inflammatory reaction, collection of pus or an infection in the lungs. This may also cause other disorders which affect normal or esophagus swallowing. Another cause would be absent or decrease of gag reflex in people who are semi-conscious or conscious.
Usually, aspiration pneumonia affects older people and people who are intoxicated, debilitated by alcohol or drugs, unconscious from anesthesia and other medical conditions. A healthy person, who inhales large amounts of material, may also develop this condition.
Aspiration Pneumonia Symptoms
Following are some of the symptoms of aspiration pneumonia:
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
- Discoloration of skin
- Rapid heart rate
- Fever
- Exhaustion
- Chest pain
Other symptoms, such as breath odor, difficulty while swallowing and excessive sweating, can also be associated with this condition. Consult the health care provider, if you notice any of the above symptoms.
Diagnosis of Aspiration Pneumonia
Following tests are performed for diagnosing aspiration pneumonia:
- Blood culture
- Swallowing studies
- Computed tomography scan of chest
- Complete blood count
- Bronchoscopy
- Chest X-ray
- Sputum culture
Treatment for Aspiration Pneumonia:
Aspiration pneumonia treatment varies from person to person. Generally, antibiotics are prescribed by the health care provider to treat pneumonia and also the microorganisms that live in mouth.
If a person has problems while swallowing food, other feeding techniques have to be used. Recovery period of a person depends upon the type of the organism, extent of lung involvement and also the severity of the disease.
Complications of Aspiration Pneumonia:
- Body may get into shock.
- Infection might spread to blood stream.
- Body pressure may reduce.
- Infection can spread to other body parts.
- Life threatening condition, such as acute respiratory distress syndrome may develop.
- This can turn into pneumonia with abscess in lung.
Prevention of Aspiration Pneumonia:
It is very important to be aware of the risks of aspiration pneumonia. Some cases are caused by carelessness, they should be avoided. It is suggested to follow the health care provider’s instructions, once the condition id detected and diagnosed.
