Pneumonia is basically a breathing condition where there is an infection or swelling of the lungs or the large airways. However, the aspiration pneumonia arises when food, liquids, saliva, or vomit is inhaled into the airways or the lungs, instead of into the esophagus. The type of bacteria causing the pneumonic condition usually depend on your health, whether you have been hospitalized recently, and if your immune system is weak. You can, however, minimize the risk of this condition through aspiration pneumonia prevention.
Normally, there are risk factors for aspirating the foreign materials into your lungs. Such risk factors are such as a coma, being less alert because of an illness, medicines, or other reasons, drinking too much alcohol, old age, and swallowing problems. Other risk factors are such receiving medicine like general anesthesia for surgery, and a poor gag reflex for unconscious or semi-conscious people after a brain injury or stroke.
Generally, aspiration pneumonia is a complication of pulmonary aspiration, in which case pulmonary aspiration occurs when you breathe into your lungs foreign materials like saliva, food or stomach acid. Also, you may aspirate from your stomach to the esophagus. All this materials, however, might carry bacteria into the lungs, although if the lungs are healthy, they can clear up the aspirated materials on their own. When the lungs are not able to clear up, a pneumonic condition arises.
When a patient is suffering from this condition, they might show certain symptoms such as throat clearing, poor oral hygiene, and wet coughing after eating. There are other symptoms such as wheezing, chest pain, and shortness of breath, fatigue, bad breath, and excessive sweating. Again, the patient might show other symptoms like swallowing difficulties, a cough with green sputum, blue discoloration of the skin, and foul odor.
A pneumonic condition generally arises if body immune system has been impaired, and harmful bacteria gets into the lungs through aspirated materials. As a result of the poor immunity, pneumonia arises. Also, the condition can occur when drinks or foods go the wrong way. However, this may happen if when you have swallowing or gag reflex is normal. Individual who have impaired coughing ability are not able to clear the inhaled materials.
During the diagnosis of aspiration pneumonia, the doctor looks for pneumonic signs during the physical exam. The doctor normally detects decreased air flow, crackling sound in your lungs, and rapid heart rate. The doctor can also perform other tests so as to confirm the pneumonic condition. Such tests may include chest x-ray, blood culture, sputum culture, bronchoscopy, arterial blood gas or complete blood count.
The treatment of this condition usually depends on how severe the pneumonic condition is. Again, the treatment duration and the result of the treatment usually depends on the general health of the patient, as well as the preexisting conditions. In the case the condition is severe, hospitalization might be necessary.
The doctor usually prescribes antibiotics for the condition. It is, however, necessary to take the medication for the entire period as prescribed, which may vary from 1-2 weeks. If the condition is causing breathing problems, supportive care might be necessary.
Normally, there are risk factors for aspirating the foreign materials into your lungs. Such risk factors are such as a coma, being less alert because of an illness, medicines, or other reasons, drinking too much alcohol, old age, and swallowing problems. Other risk factors are such receiving medicine like general anesthesia for surgery, and a poor gag reflex for unconscious or semi-conscious people after a brain injury or stroke.
Generally, aspiration pneumonia is a complication of pulmonary aspiration, in which case pulmonary aspiration occurs when you breathe into your lungs foreign materials like saliva, food or stomach acid. Also, you may aspirate from your stomach to the esophagus. All this materials, however, might carry bacteria into the lungs, although if the lungs are healthy, they can clear up the aspirated materials on their own. When the lungs are not able to clear up, a pneumonic condition arises.
When a patient is suffering from this condition, they might show certain symptoms such as throat clearing, poor oral hygiene, and wet coughing after eating. There are other symptoms such as wheezing, chest pain, and shortness of breath, fatigue, bad breath, and excessive sweating. Again, the patient might show other symptoms like swallowing difficulties, a cough with green sputum, blue discoloration of the skin, and foul odor.
A pneumonic condition generally arises if body immune system has been impaired, and harmful bacteria gets into the lungs through aspirated materials. As a result of the poor immunity, pneumonia arises. Also, the condition can occur when drinks or foods go the wrong way. However, this may happen if when you have swallowing or gag reflex is normal. Individual who have impaired coughing ability are not able to clear the inhaled materials.
During the diagnosis of aspiration pneumonia, the doctor looks for pneumonic signs during the physical exam. The doctor normally detects decreased air flow, crackling sound in your lungs, and rapid heart rate. The doctor can also perform other tests so as to confirm the pneumonic condition. Such tests may include chest x-ray, blood culture, sputum culture, bronchoscopy, arterial blood gas or complete blood count.
The treatment of this condition usually depends on how severe the pneumonic condition is. Again, the treatment duration and the result of the treatment usually depends on the general health of the patient, as well as the preexisting conditions. In the case the condition is severe, hospitalization might be necessary.
The doctor usually prescribes antibiotics for the condition. It is, however, necessary to take the medication for the entire period as prescribed, which may vary from 1-2 weeks. If the condition is causing breathing problems, supportive care might be necessary.
About the Author:
Our online resources provide you with all the facts you need to know about the aspiration pneumonia prevention. To read the latest articles now, visit the main website at http://www.swallowstudy.com/?page_id=320.