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Some patients have limited awareness of their dysphagia, so lack of the symptom does not exclude an underlying disease. [11] When dysphagia goes undiagnosed or untreated, patients are at a high risk of pulmonary aspiration and subsequent aspiration pneumonia secondary to food or liquids going the wrong way into the lungs.
Pulmonary aspiration is the entry of solid or liquid material such as pharyngeal secretions, food, drink, or stomach contents from the oropharynx or gastrointestinal tract, into the trachea and lungs. [1] When pulmonary aspiration occurs during eating and drinking, the aspirated material is often colloquially referred to as "going down the ...
Aspiration pneumonia is a type of lung infection that is due to a relatively large amount of material from the stomach or mouth entering the lungs. [1] Signs and symptoms often include fever and cough of relatively rapid onset. [1]
Laryngospasm is a primitive protective airway reflex that functions to protect against aspiration.However, it may be detrimental if there is sustained closure of the glottis resulting in blockage of respiration that hinders the free flow of air.
In both childhood and adult pneumonitis, hydrocarbon aspiration occurs at the time of initial ingestion event or subsequently with vomiting. Low viscosity of an ingested hydrocarbon is considered a major factor promoting aspiration (presumably for mechanical reasons).
Treatment is focused on reversing the cause of inflammation and reducing symptoms. Corticosteroids may be given to reduce inflammation, often before long-term scarring occurs. Antibiotics are usually not helpful or needed, unless there is a secondary infection. Oxygen therapy may be helpful.
Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) or laryngopharyngeal reflux disease (LPRD) is the retrograde flow of gastric contents into the larynx, oropharynx and/or the nasopharynx. [4] [5] LPR causes respiratory symptoms such as cough and wheezing [6] and is often associated with head and neck complaints such as dysphonia, globus pharyngis, and dysphagia. [7]
Treatment of unconscious patients focuses on preventing or treating obstructions of the airway, such as head-tilt/chin-lift and jaw-thrust maneuvers, while the use of the recovery position mainly prevents aspiration of things like stomach content or blood.