Where is aspiration pneumonia

If the person is having difficulty swallowing, doctors may recommend an assisted feeding method or a change of eating habits to avoid further aspiration. Aspiration pneumonia can cause severe complications, especially if a person waits too long to go to the doctor. The infection may progress quickly and spread to other areas of the body. It may also spread to the bloodstream, which is especially dangerous.

Pockets or abscesses may form in the lungs. In some cases, pneumonia can cause shock or respiratory failure. Diseases that affect swallowing or cause further inflammation may make aspiration pneumonia worse or prevent it from healing properly. Some severe infections may result in long-term damage and scarring in the lungs and major airways. Aspiration pneumonia is not always preventable, but some lifestyle choices can help reduce the risk.

Drinking excessive alcohol or using illicit drugs raise the risk of aspiration pneumonia, as a person may be too intoxicated to swallow properly.

Prescription medications that affect the muscles or make a person overly drowsy can also increase the risk of aspiration pneumonia. Anyone who feels that their food regularly goes down the wrong pipe when they are taking prescription medications should talk to their doctor about adjusting the dosage or switching medications to avoid breathing in foreign particles. The outlook for people with aspiration pneumonia depends on a few critical factors, such as how soon the person went to the doctor with their symptoms, how far the symptoms progressed, and their general health before getting pneumonia.

Aspiration pneumonia appears to be more severe than the common form of pneumonia. In one study , researchers noted that people with aspirational pneumonia were much more likely to check into a hospital, stay in intensive care, or pass away from the illness compared to people with community-acquired pneumonia. Doctors will carefully monitor older individuals or those with compromised immune systems to avoid life-threatening complications.

Unless otherwise told by a doctor, always complete a full course of antibiotic treatment, even if symptoms go away early on in the treatment.

Lifestyle changes, such as improving oral hygiene and quitting drugs or alcohol, may also help prevent aspiration pneumonia. Mycoplasma pneumoniae can cause a mild bacterial infection in the lung, but more severe symptoms of pneumonia can also result. Most cases will resolve…. Some of the symptoms of pneumonia may be manageable at home.

This article covers home remedies for pneumonia and when to see a doctor. Learn more here. Pneumonia is an infection of the lung tissue that can make it difficult to breathe due to inflammation, fluid, and pus. In severe cases, it can be…. Pneumonitis is a condition where inhaling certain substances leads to an allergic reaction in the lungs.

You should have some of your test results within 24 hours. Blood and sputum cultures will take three to five days. Treatment depends on the severity of your pneumonia. Outcomes and duration of treatment depend on your general health, preexisting conditions, and hospital policies. Treating severe pneumonia may require hospitalization.

People with trouble swallowing may need to stop taking food by mouth. Your doctor will prescribe antibiotics for your condition. Things your doctor will ask before prescribing antibiotics:. Make sure to take the antibiotics for the entire length of the prescription period.

This period can vary from one to two weeks. You may also need supportive care if aspiration pneumonia causes breathing problems. Treatment includes supplemental oxygen , steroids, or help from a breathing machine.

Depending on the cause of chronic aspiration, you may require surgery. Your doctor may recommend a swallow evaluation by a licensed speech pathologist or swallow therapist. They can work with you on swallowing strategies and throat muscle strengthening. You may also need to change your diet. Many people who have aspiration pneumonia also have other diseases that affect swallowing. This can result in a longer recovery period. Your outlook depends on:.

Pneumonia can cause long-term problems like a lung abscess or permanent scarring. Some people will develop acute respiratory failure, which can be fatal. Aspiration pneumonia is a lung infection caused by inhaled oral or gastric contents. It can become serious if left untreated. Treatment involves antibiotics and supportive care for breathing. Your outlook depends on your state of health prior to the event, the type of foreign material that is aspirated into your lungs, and any other conditions you might have.

Most people 79 percent will survive aspiration pneumonia. The inflammation makes the lungs more susceptible to bacterial infection. Drowning Drowning Drowning occurs when submersion in liquid causes suffocation or interferes with breathing. During drowning, the body is deprived of oxygen, which can damage organs, particularly the brain.

See also Overview of Pneumonia Overview of Pneumonia Pneumonia is an infection of the small air sacs of the lungs alveoli and the tissues around them. Pneumonia is one of the most common causes of death worldwide. Often, pneumonia is the final Tiny particles from the mouth frequently dribble or are inhaled aspirated into the airways. Usually they are cleared out by normal defense mechanisms such as coughing before they can get into the lungs and cause inflammation or infection.

Material aspirated from the mouth and throat is more likely to contain bacteria, which can cause infectious pneumonia. Material aspirated from the stomach is usually very acidic and can severely damage the lungs even before infection develops. Have gastroesophageal reflux disease Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease GERD In gastroesophageal reflux disease, stomach contents, including acid and bile, flow backward from the stomach into the esophagus, causing inflammation in the esophagus and pain in the bottom Symptoms of aspiration pneumonia do not begin for at least a day or two.

The most common symptom is. Doctors usually make the diagnosis of aspiration pneumonia based on finding signs or symptoms in people who have any of the risk factors described above.

A chest x-ray confirms the diagnosis of pneumonia. If the x-ray shows an abnormality in certain portions of the lungs, such as the bottom of the lungs a common location for aspirated material , aspiration is more likely to be the cause.

Treatment of aspiration pneumonia requires antibiotics. For people who have conditions that increase their risk of aspiration, doctors may stop or reduce the dosage of drugs that cause sedation.

Raising the head of the bed slightly to prevent food, liquid, or acid in the stomach from moving up into the throat and then down into the lungs and consuming specific food textures or thickened liquids also help reduce the risk of aspiration.

A speech pathologist may teach the person specific swallowing techniques for example, swallowing while tucking the chin toward the chest to further reduce the risk of aspiration. Chemical pneumonitis occurs when a person inhales aspirates material that is toxic to the lungs. The problem is more the result of irritation than infection.

A commonly inhaled toxic material is stomach acid, so that chemical pneumonitis may result whenever a person inhales what has been vomited up.