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.
Normally, there are risk factors for aspirating the foreign materials into your lungs. Such risk factors are such as a coma, being less alert because of an illness, medicines, or other reasons, drinking too much alcohol, old age, and swallowing problems. Other risk factors are such receiving medicine like general anesthesia for surgery, and a poor gag reflex for unconscious or semi-conscious people after a brain injury or stroke.
Aspiration pneumonia is usually due to complication of pulmonary aspiration, while pulmonary aspiration arises if you inhale foreign materials such as stomach acid, saliva or food into the lungs. Again, you can aspirate into your esophagus from the stomach. However, all these foreign materials carry into your lungs more bacteria. If your lungs are healthy, they clear up such materials, but if they cannot clear up the materials, the pneumonic condition occurs.
In case a patient has this condition, they show certain symptoms that include poor oral hygiene, throat clearing or wet coughing after taking food. Other symptoms include chest pain, shortness of breath, wheezing, bad breath, fatigue, and excessive sweating. On the other hand, patients may have problems swallowing, blue skin discoloration, a foul odor, and a cough that has a green sputum.
Basically, this pneumonic condition arises if your immunity is impaired and the aspirated material carries more harmful bacteria. Due to impaired defenses, the condition may occur. Also, this condition may develop if the food or drink goes through the wrong way. This can occur even if a person has normal gag reflex or swallowing. However, people who might have their coughing ability impaired might not be able to clear it up.
During a diagnosis of this condition, the doctor checks for pneumonic symptoms during a physical exam. They usually detect crackling sound from the lungs, decreased air flow, as well as rapid heart rate. They may also carry out other tests to confirm the condition. Such tests are such as chest x-ray, sputum culture, blood culture, complete blood count, bronchoscopy, or arterial blood gas.
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.
The doctor usually prescribes antibiotics for the condition. It is, however, necessary to take the medication for the entire period as prescribed, which may vary from 1-2 weeks. If the condition is causing breathing problems, supportive care might be necessary.
Normally, there are risk factors for aspirating the foreign materials into your lungs. Such risk factors are such as a coma, being less alert because of an illness, medicines, or other reasons, drinking too much alcohol, old age, and swallowing problems. Other risk factors are such receiving medicine like general anesthesia for surgery, and a poor gag reflex for unconscious or semi-conscious people after a brain injury or stroke.
Aspiration pneumonia is usually due to complication of pulmonary aspiration, while pulmonary aspiration arises if you inhale foreign materials such as stomach acid, saliva or food into the lungs. Again, you can aspirate into your esophagus from the stomach. However, all these foreign materials carry into your lungs more bacteria. If your lungs are healthy, they clear up such materials, but if they cannot clear up the materials, the pneumonic condition occurs.
In case a patient has this condition, they show certain symptoms that include poor oral hygiene, throat clearing or wet coughing after taking food. Other symptoms include chest pain, shortness of breath, wheezing, bad breath, fatigue, and excessive sweating. On the other hand, patients may have problems swallowing, blue skin discoloration, a foul odor, and a cough that has a green sputum.
Basically, this pneumonic condition arises if your immunity is impaired and the aspirated material carries more harmful bacteria. Due to impaired defenses, the condition may occur. Also, this condition may develop if the food or drink goes through the wrong way. This can occur even if a person has normal gag reflex or swallowing. However, people who might have their coughing ability impaired might not be able to clear it up.
During a diagnosis of this condition, the doctor checks for pneumonic symptoms during a physical exam. They usually detect crackling sound from the lungs, decreased air flow, as well as rapid heart rate. They may also carry out other tests to confirm the condition. Such tests are such as chest x-ray, sputum culture, blood culture, complete blood count, bronchoscopy, or arterial blood gas.
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.
The doctor usually prescribes antibiotics for the condition. It is, however, necessary to take the medication for the entire period as prescribed, which may vary from 1-2 weeks. If the condition is causing breathing problems, supportive care might be necessary.
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