Aspiration pneumonia is a kind of infection of the lungs and develops once you inhale liquid, food or vomit into the lungs. At the same time, you may aspirate liquid or food from the stomach and backs up in the esophagus. As a result, bacteria grow into the lungs if the aspirated material is not coughed up causing the infection. However aspiration pneumonia prevention is possible.
The risk of contracting aspiration pneumonia is dependent on different conditions. Individuals above age 75 years or those who have been in adult care homes for long are at high risk of contracting this infection since they are less active. The difficulty to cough of swallow well also increases the risks of exposure.
There are other factors that increase the risk of this pneumonia. These factors are such as a weak immune system due to diabetes, age, heart failure, and other health issues. At the same time, if the muscles that help you swallow become weak due to various conditions such as Alzheimer disease, stroke and other disease. Other risk factors are such as smoking cigarettes, use of a ventilator or feeding tube which allows bacteria to go to the lungs, alcoholism and poor oral hygiene.
Aspiration pneumonia generally causes inflammations to the bronchial tubes as well as the lungs. Although the infection is not as common, there are possibilities of contracting it. Anaerobic bacteria commonly cause the infection. In addition, fungi and viruses can also cause pneumonia even though not with aspirations. Even though our immune system battles the invasion to prevent the occurrences of such infections, sometimes these germs can overpower the immune system. Under the normal circumstances, only air ought to enter our lungs, even though the infections can occur should anything hinder the usual gag reflex.
While some people are able to effectively expel the aspirate material by making a strong cough, some people cannot because their coughing ability has been impaired. The impaired coughing ability is common in unconscious individuals or people who have brain injuries which result to decreased consciousness. Many people, however, aspirate some saliva every night while asleep but do not develop the infection since they are able clear the aspirate and have a healthy immune system.
This infection has a number of clinical manifestations. They include fever, cough that could be dry or with mucus, froth or pinkish spit, trouble in swallowing, and the skin in the mouth and fingertips turning bluish. Other symptoms include as high heartbeat or pain in the chest, a hoarseness or gurgling voice, loss of weight, appetite loss and a general feeling of fatigue.
The treatment of this infection usually depends on its severity. Your doctor might at first give some antibiotics as the first line of treatment. If the infection is severe and have trouble swallow you might need to stop taking food or liquid by mouth.
It is, however, possible to reduce the infection risk or prevent this condition. This can be made possible by keeping away from actions that can cause one to aspire like excessive alcohol use. Dental care and proper oral hygiene are also significant ways of reducing the infection risks.
The risk of contracting aspiration pneumonia is dependent on different conditions. Individuals above age 75 years or those who have been in adult care homes for long are at high risk of contracting this infection since they are less active. The difficulty to cough of swallow well also increases the risks of exposure.
There are other factors that increase the risk of this pneumonia. These factors are such as a weak immune system due to diabetes, age, heart failure, and other health issues. At the same time, if the muscles that help you swallow become weak due to various conditions such as Alzheimer disease, stroke and other disease. Other risk factors are such as smoking cigarettes, use of a ventilator or feeding tube which allows bacteria to go to the lungs, alcoholism and poor oral hygiene.
Aspiration pneumonia generally causes inflammations to the bronchial tubes as well as the lungs. Although the infection is not as common, there are possibilities of contracting it. Anaerobic bacteria commonly cause the infection. In addition, fungi and viruses can also cause pneumonia even though not with aspirations. Even though our immune system battles the invasion to prevent the occurrences of such infections, sometimes these germs can overpower the immune system. Under the normal circumstances, only air ought to enter our lungs, even though the infections can occur should anything hinder the usual gag reflex.
While some people are able to effectively expel the aspirate material by making a strong cough, some people cannot because their coughing ability has been impaired. The impaired coughing ability is common in unconscious individuals or people who have brain injuries which result to decreased consciousness. Many people, however, aspirate some saliva every night while asleep but do not develop the infection since they are able clear the aspirate and have a healthy immune system.
This infection has a number of clinical manifestations. They include fever, cough that could be dry or with mucus, froth or pinkish spit, trouble in swallowing, and the skin in the mouth and fingertips turning bluish. Other symptoms include as high heartbeat or pain in the chest, a hoarseness or gurgling voice, loss of weight, appetite loss and a general feeling of fatigue.
The treatment of this infection usually depends on its severity. Your doctor might at first give some antibiotics as the first line of treatment. If the infection is severe and have trouble swallow you might need to stop taking food or liquid by mouth.
It is, however, possible to reduce the infection risk or prevent this condition. This can be made possible by keeping away from actions that can cause one to aspire like excessive alcohol use. Dental care and proper oral hygiene are also significant ways of reducing the infection risks.
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