Aspiration pneumonia is an infection of the lung caused by the entry of contaminated liquids or objects from the mouth or stomach and, therefore, it is mainly associated with changes in swallowing.
Generally, this pneumonia is curable and is more common in babies, the elderly, patients in a coma or who breathe with the help of devices, producing symptoms such as high fever and difficulty breathing.
Treatment should be started as soon as possible with the use of oral antibiotics, and hospitalization may be necessary in the most severe cases.
Symptoms of aspiration pneumonia
Symptoms of aspiration pneumonia usually include:
- Fever above 38ºC; Cough with phlegm; Feeling of shortness of breath; Easy tiredness.
The symptoms of pneumonia in the baby can be different, manifesting mainly through excessive crying and decreased appetite. Aspiration pneumonia symptoms in the elderly cause mental confusion and decreased muscle strength, and are rarely associated with fever.
Usually these signs and symptoms appear up to 3 days after the individual has choked on food or secretions, being diagnosed by a pulmonologist after an evaluation of the clinical history and complementary exams, such as chest X-ray and blood or phlegm examination.
Aspiration pneumonia in a baby
Baby aspiration pneumonia is one of the main infections of the lungs in children under 1 year of age, since it is common for the infant to choke or place small objects in the mouth, which can go to the lungs.
Generally, this pneumonia is caused by choking with vomiting, which can happen when the baby has esophageal malformations, such as atresia or when the baby is belly up.
Treatment can be done at home with antibiotic syrups, but sometimes hospitalization may be necessary, depending on the severity of the disease.
Treatment of aspiration pneumonia
The treatment lasts for about 2 weeks and can be done at home using a combination of antibiotics, such as ceftriaxone and clindamycin or levofloxacin and clindamycin. But, depending on the severity of the disease, and the patient's health, hospitalization may be necessary.
During treatment the patient should always brush his teeth, keeping his mouth clean and removing the throat clearing, as these are great ways to prevent the transport of bacteria from the mouth to the lung.
In the elderly, in addition to treating aspiration pneumonia, it is important to prevent the problem, which led to pneumonia from happening again. For this, techniques such as eating solid foods, in small amounts, and taking gelatin instead of water can be used.
After treatment, it is recommended to perform a chest x-ray to confirm that there is no more liquid in the lung, as well as avoid places with a lot of pollution and take the pneumococcal vaccine to prevent pneumonia from coming back.
