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Signs and symptoms of aspiration pneumonia may develop gradually, with increased respiratory rate, foul-smelling sputum, hemoptysis, and fever. Complications may occur, such as exudative pleural effusion, empyema, and lung abscesses. [4] If left untreated, aspiration pneumonia can progress to form a lung abscess. [5]
Uncomplicated aspiration events commonly present with symptoms including wheezing and coughing. Signs and symptoms that aspiration is complicated can include dyspnea (shortness of breath), hypoxemia (low oxygen in the blood), tachycardia (high heart rate), fever, and crackles or wheezes on lung exam.
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung primarily affecting the small air sacs known as alveoli. [3] [14] Symptoms typically include some combination of productive or dry cough, chest pain, fever, and difficulty breathing. [15]
There is also an increased risk of aspiration pneumonia [14] due to food entering the airways through the abnormal connections that may develop between the esophagus and the trachea (windpipe). [13] Early signs of this serious complication may be coughing on drinking or eating. [18]
Signs of foreign body aspiration are usually abrupt in onset and can involve coughing, choking, and/or wheezing; however, symptoms can be slower in onset if the foreign body does not cause a large degree of obstruction of the airway. [2] With this said, aspiration can also be asymptomatic on rare occasions. [1]
Signs of contusion that progress after 48 hours post-injury are likely to be actually due to aspiration, pneumonia, or ARDS. [10] Although chest radiography is an important part of the diagnosis, it is often not sensitive enough to detect the condition early after the injury. [35]
In adults, foreign body aspiration is often associated with an altered state of consciousness. The foreign body is often unchewed food, or part of a tooth or crown. [33] Bronchiectasis that results from foreign body aspiration generally occurs in the right lung in the lower lobe or posterior segments of the upper lobe. [34]
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. Some people present with "silent aspiration" and do not cough or show outward signs of aspiration.