Aspiration pneumonia, dangerous if ignored

Aspiration pneumonia is closely related to lung aspiration. What is meant by lung aspiration is a condition when there is food, saliva, or stomach acid that enters the lungs. Meanwhile, aspiration pneumonia is a complication of lung aspiration. At first glance it seems food, saliva, or stomach acid might not enter the lungs. But in reality, aspiration may occur when we choke, or when food or acidic substances from the stomach return to the esophagus and enter the respiratory tract to the lungs. Lung aspiration needs to be watched out, because it can lead to quite bad conditions, such as:

• Obstruction

That is if there are objects in large sizes that enter the lungs, can cause blockage of the respiratory tract.

• Chemical pneumonitis

In this condition inflammation occurs in the lung tissue due to chemical stimulation. This condition can develop, so you may experience acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). One of them can be influenced by aspirations from the contents of the stomach.

• Bacterial infection

If there is an infection in the lower respiratory tract, respiratory problems can occur due to infections such as pneumonia, lung abscess until acute respiratory failure.

Virus or bacterial contamination

Food or other substances that enter the lungs, can cause the lungs to be contaminated with bacteria and viruses. Actually in a fairly healthy state the respiratory tract has a mechanism to expel objects that are considered foreign. However, if the respiratory tract is in an unhealthy state or the body is in a weak state, the entry of this foreign body cannot be inhibited or expelled to maintain the cleanliness of the lungs, so that infections can occur that cause pneumonia with various complications.

Understand the Symptoms

You may not always be able to feel when objects or substances enter the lungs. However, you can recognize it through its symptoms. These symptoms differ from one another, depending on the type of cause and your health condition. Symptoms that may arise are:

• Pain in the chest, when coughing or breathing,
• Hard to breathe
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Cough with phlegm
• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
• Excessive sweating
• Difficulty swallowing
• Hard to breathe
• The skin turns bluish (a sign of the body's lack of oxygen)
• In the elderly or people whose immune systems are low, body temperature can be lower than normal temperatures. In addition, mental changes or confusion may occur.

See a doctor immediately

If you see any of these symptoms, see your doctor immediately. Aspiration pneumonia can cause death, especially in people who already have heart failure, chronic lung conditions, or in the elderly (elderly) group. Your doctor will ensure that you experience aspiration pneumonia by doing an X-ray of the chest, a complete blood test, bronchoscopy, and / or a CT scan on the chest. Do not ignore if you are recommended to do the examination, considering aspiration pneumonia is a serious condition. Treatment for aspiration pneumonia depends on the severity suffered. The doctor may give antibiotics for 1-2 weeks. Make sure the consumption of antibiotic drugs until they run out with the dosage according to doctor's orders. If the condition is classified as severe, you may be asked to be hospitalized for administration of drugs or other supporting devices. If the body does not show healing and is considered conservative treatment is not enough to help, the doctor may recommend surgery. Recognize the symptoms of aspiration pneumonia. then immediately see a doctor to get a fast and proper treatment if you find it.