How To Diagnose And Treat Aspiration Pneumonia

Aspiration pneumonia is a serious lung infection. It occurs due to an individual aspirating or inhaling liquid, food, or vomit down into the airways and lungs. Liquid or food already in an individual's stomach that regurgitates up their esophagus can aspirate into their lungs. Aspiration pneumonia develops when an individual cannot cough up the substance aspirated into the lungs, and bacteria begin to colonize. Symptoms include wet or dry cough, pink or frothy sputum, fever, difficulty swallowing, rapid heartbeat, voice changes, appetite loss, blue fingertips, alterations in alertness, breathlessness, chest pain, and weight loss.