When a foreign substance is accidentally inhaled into the lungs, pneumonia by aspiration can occur especially if these objects are infected with viral, bacterial or fungal organisms. Reports have shown that as many as 15 percent of pneumonia cases are caused by aspiration.
Anyone can develop aspiration pneumonia but certain circumstances can increase the risk. Some of these causes include: alcohol abuse, drug overdose, swallowing problems and being on a ventilator. The very young and the elderly are at a higher risk and men are more likely to develop this type of pneumonia than women. People who work with chemicals and those who suffer seizures are also more likely to develop pneumonia from aspiration.
The symptoms of pneumonia from aspirations are similar to other kinds of pneumonia and can include: bluish skin (this is caused by a lack of oxygen), chest pain, a cough that produces colored mucus, fever, chills, shortness of breath and wheezing.
Complications such as low blood pressure, abscesses in the lungs and the spread of infection are attributed to aspiration pneumonia. Death from respiratory distress is also caused by this type of pneumonia.
The degrees of aspiration pneumonia can range from a mild case in which a person is not required to stay in bed, to a serious infection that will require hospitalization.
If the infection is bacterial in nature, antibodies are prescribed and if the person is admitted to the hospital they may require oxygen to make breathing easier.
If the substance that was inhaled into the lung is solid, it may be removed by bronchoscope, which is a procedure that involves threading a thin, flexible tube through the mouth into the lungs and removing the object.
If a person has aspiration pneumonia they should get a pneumonia shot since they will be more susceptible to getting any type of pneumonia in the future.
Sat, Jul 3, 2010
Aging, Health