We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Health

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Are the Symptoms of Aspiration Pneumonia?

By Britt Archer
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 11,081
Share

Foreign objects or liquids that enter the lungs can cause a serious inflammatory condition called aspiration pneumonia. Foreign material can be anything from food and drink to vomit or stomach acid. A number of different symptoms of aspiration pneumonia can occur, including chest pain, a bluish tinge to the skin, fever, shortness of breath, wheezing, and cough. The cough may be accompanied by smelly or green-colored sputum, and the cough also may produce blood or pus. A patient exhibiting symptoms of aspiration pneumonia may also have bad breath, may not be able to comfortably swallow and may begin to sweat to an excessive degree.

Symptoms of aspiration pneumonia may require a trip to the doctor or a hospital emergency room. Patients who suffer from chest pain, wheezing, shortness of breath, fever, or chills should seek medical attention right away. A doctor will perform an examination, looking for abnormal lung sounds such as crackling, and the exam will also note the patient’s heart rate and oxygen level. A doctor also may order some tests that will determine how well a patient can swallow, plus a chest X-ray, bronchoscopy, sputum and blood cultures, a CT scan and a measurement of arterial blood gas.

There are different types of aspiration pneumonia. A patient who aspirates stomach acid will have chemical pneumonia. A patient who aspirates bacteria from the throat or mouth areas will develop bacterial pneumonia. The third type, exogenous lipoid pneumonia, is much less common and stems from oil aspiration. Furthermore, non-bacterial pneumonia can develop into bacterial pneumonia.

Not every patient who shows symptoms of aspiration pneumonia will need to be admitted to the hospital. The decision to admit a patient will depend on the individual and the severity of the condition. The patient’s recovery will depend on several factors, including how much damage has been done to the lungs.

Symptoms of aspiration pneumonia may appear without a recognizable precipitating event. Factors that pose a risk of contracting the disease include conditions that may lead to a state of unconsciousness, such as stroke, alcohol and drug use, seizure, and head injury. An increased risk of aspiration pneumonia is present for patients suffering from reflux, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and Parkinson’s disease.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
By anon999057 — On Oct 19, 2017

I have a pegtube in me since Aug. of this year, however I have been eating and drinking water by mouth, and the doctor doesn't seen to be doing anything to help me. What are steps to get off the pegtube?

By discographer — On Jan 01, 2015

The three most common symptoms of pneumonia are apparently flu, coughing and difficulty breathing. If anyone got something in their airways lately (apparently, even some chemical gasses can cause this), and has these three symptoms, it could be pneumonia. If the pneumonia is bacterial, the good news is that it can be easily treated with antibiotics. But it's important to get diagnosed as fast as possible.

By burcinc — On Dec 31, 2014

@bluedolphin-- Well yes. Normally, when water enters the airways, the larynx (the voice box containing the vocal cords) closes off the air tube to prevent water from entering the lungs. The water ends up in the stomach instead. Sometimes though, water gets through into the air tube. Or in the case of drowning for example, there is only so much water that a person can ingest and the rest can enter the lungs. Sometimes this even happens when we're eating or drinking. Even a drop of water into the air tube can cause severe coughing and irritation. It has happened to most of us at least once.

Aspiration pneumonia is actually one complication of getting food, water or other substances in the lungs. This can actually lead to death because the lungs can develop dangerous edema as a result.

By bluedolphin — On Dec 31, 2014

How does someone breathe in saliva, food or vomit into the lungs? Isn't there a valve in the throat or airways that actually prevents this from happening? If there wasn't, we all would be breathing in liquids every time we drink something. So is aspiration pneumonia is a malfunction of this system?

Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-are-the-symptoms-of-aspiration-pneumonia.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.