Pneumonia is basically a breathing condition where there is an infection or swelling of the lungs or the large airways. However, the aspiration pneumonia arises when food, liquids, saliva, or vomit is inhaled into the airways or the lungs, instead of into the esophagus. The type of bacteria causing the pneumonic condition usually depend on your health, whether you have been hospitalized recently, and if your immune system is weak. You can, however, minimize the risk of this condition through aspiration pneumonia prevention.
There are numerous risk factors for inhaling materials into the lungs. Some of those risk factors include a coma, drinking too much alcohol, swallowing problems, old age, and being less alert due to an illness or medicines. The other risk factors are such as receiving medications like the general anesthesia during surgery, as well as poor gag reflex in semi-conscious or unconscious people due to a brain injury or stroke.
This condition is basically a complication of the pulmonary aspiration, where pulmonary aspiration arises when you inhale foreign material such as food, saliva or stomach acid into your lungs. You might also aspirate food from the stomach to the esophagus. However, all these materials may carry bacteria into your lungs, although healthy lungs are able to clear up such material on their own. If the lungs cannot clear up on their own, a pneumonic condition develops.
A patient suffering from the aspiration pneumonia might have symptoms such as poor oral hygiene, throat clearing, and wet coughing after meals. Other symptoms are such as chest pain, wheezing, fatigue, shortness of breath, excessive sweating, and bad breath. The patient might also have symptoms such as difficulty swallowing, a cough that might have green sputum, foul odor or blood, and the skin might have a blue discoloration.
The pneumonic condition normally occurs if your immune system is impaired and more harmful bacteria are carried by the aspirated material. Because of the impaired immunity, pneumonia occurs. Again, this condition can develop when food or drinks goes the wrong way. The food can go the wrong way even though you have normal swallowing or gag reflex. Also, people with impaired coughing ability may not clear up the aspirated material.
When diagnosing this condition, doctors usually check for the pneumonic symptoms during the physical exam. Doctors usually detect reduced air flow, crackling sound in your lungs, and a rapid heart rate. Also, they may perform other confirmatory tests for the condition. The confirmatory tests are such as sputum culture, chest x-ray, blood culture, arterial blood gas, complete blood count, and bronchoscopy.
The treatment of this condition usually depends on how severe the pneumonic condition is. Again, the treatment duration and the result of the treatment usually depends on the general health of the patient, as well as the preexisting conditions. In the case the condition is severe, hospitalization might be necessary.
Normally, doctors prescribe antibiotics for this condition. However, it is important you take all the medications as prescribed, usually for about 1-2 weeks. In case the condition causes breathing difficulties, supportive care would be necessary.
There are numerous risk factors for inhaling materials into the lungs. Some of those risk factors include a coma, drinking too much alcohol, swallowing problems, old age, and being less alert due to an illness or medicines. The other risk factors are such as receiving medications like the general anesthesia during surgery, as well as poor gag reflex in semi-conscious or unconscious people due to a brain injury or stroke.
This condition is basically a complication of the pulmonary aspiration, where pulmonary aspiration arises when you inhale foreign material such as food, saliva or stomach acid into your lungs. You might also aspirate food from the stomach to the esophagus. However, all these materials may carry bacteria into your lungs, although healthy lungs are able to clear up such material on their own. If the lungs cannot clear up on their own, a pneumonic condition develops.
A patient suffering from the aspiration pneumonia might have symptoms such as poor oral hygiene, throat clearing, and wet coughing after meals. Other symptoms are such as chest pain, wheezing, fatigue, shortness of breath, excessive sweating, and bad breath. The patient might also have symptoms such as difficulty swallowing, a cough that might have green sputum, foul odor or blood, and the skin might have a blue discoloration.
The pneumonic condition normally occurs if your immune system is impaired and more harmful bacteria are carried by the aspirated material. Because of the impaired immunity, pneumonia occurs. Again, this condition can develop when food or drinks goes the wrong way. The food can go the wrong way even though you have normal swallowing or gag reflex. Also, people with impaired coughing ability may not clear up the aspirated material.
When diagnosing this condition, doctors usually check for the pneumonic symptoms during the physical exam. Doctors usually detect reduced air flow, crackling sound in your lungs, and a rapid heart rate. Also, they may perform other confirmatory tests for the condition. The confirmatory tests are such as sputum culture, chest x-ray, blood culture, arterial blood gas, complete blood count, and bronchoscopy.
The treatment of this condition usually depends on how severe the pneumonic condition is. Again, the treatment duration and the result of the treatment usually depends on the general health of the patient, as well as the preexisting conditions. In the case the condition is severe, hospitalization might be necessary.
Normally, doctors prescribe antibiotics for this condition. However, it is important you take all the medications as prescribed, usually for about 1-2 weeks. In case the condition causes breathing difficulties, supportive care would be necessary.
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