Aspiration Pneumonia Definition, Reason, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention
Definition
Aspirated pneumonia is pneumonia that occurs when a substance, such as food, stomach acid or saliva, gets into the lungs. These substances can carry bacteria that cause lung infections.
In healthy or normal lungs, a little substance that enters the lungs can be cleared by itself. But if not, lung infection or pneumonia can occur as a complication.
Aspira pneumonia can be serious if experienced by children under 2 years of age or parents over 65 years of age. The following are people who are at high risk of developing aspiration pneumonia:
- People with impaired consciousness
- Lung disease sufferers
- People having seizures
- Stroke sufferer
- People with dental and oral disorders
- Dementia sufferers
- People with swallowing disorders
- People with mental disorders
- Patients with neurological diseases
- People having radiation therapy to the head and neck
- People who have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
Symptom
Symptoms of aspiration pneumonia that often appear include:
- poor oral hygiene
- after eating often clears the throat or coughs up phlegm
- chest pain
- hard to breathe
- sneeze
- fatigue
- blue skin
- coughing up green phlegm, blood or odor
- hard to swallow
- bad breath
Reason
The body usually coughs automatically due to the gag reflex, when a substance enters the lungs. Aspira pneumonia occurs when the body’s immune system is not in good condition. As a result, quite a lot of bacteria can be carried from substances that enter the lungs and can cause infection.
Aspiration pneumonia usually occurs in patients who do not have a gag reflex, such as:
- People with nervous disorders
- Throat cancer patient
- Patients with Parkinson’s disease or myasthenia gravis
- People who consume alcohol in excess
- People who have recently undergone anesthesia
- People who have a low immune system
- Patients with esophageal disease
- People who suffer from dental and oral diseases that interfere with the process of chewing and swallowing
Diagnosis
In establishing the diagnosis of aspira pneumonia, the doctor will suspect pneumonia from a physical examination, such as a crackling sound in the lungs.
Investigations can also be done to help establish the diagnosis. For example with X-rays, blood cultures, blood tests and blood gases, bronchoscopy, CT scans, and blood cultures. The doctor will suspect the cause of pneumonia, namely apira, if the patient is at high risk for pneumonia aspira.
Treatment
Treatment of aspira pneumonia depends on the severity of the lung infection that occurs. For cases that are severe enough, usually require hospitalization.
Patients who have swallowing disorders should not eat by mouth anymore and use a feeding tube. Treatment will be given with antibiotics, both oral and infusion. Antibiotics must be spent and according to the doctor’s recommended dosage.
Treatment time depends on the severity of the infection. Supportive therapy may also be needed, such as the administration of oxygen or steroids and even a breathing machine.
Prevention
If you really have swallowing problems, you can prevent aspiration pneumonia by avoiding eating from your mouth. You can also do exercises to strengthen your throat muscles and how to swallow.
In addition to the above, maintaining dental and oral hygiene is also important to do. Regular dental and oral examinations, every six months, should be carried out.