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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.
In the setting of lower airway aspiration, patients may develop pneumonia like symptoms such as fever, chest pain, foul smelling sputum, or blood in sputum (hemoptysis). In the case of long term foreign body aspiration, patients may present with signs of lobar pneumonia or pleural effusion.
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]
In elderly people, confusion may be the most prominent sign. [9] The typical signs and symptoms in children under five are fever, cough, and fast or difficult breathing. [23] Fever is not very specific, as it occurs in many other common illnesses and may be absent in those with severe disease, malnutrition or in the elderly.
In an elderly person, the first sign of hospital-acquired pneumonia may be mental changes or confusion. Other symptoms may include: A cough with greenish or pus-like phlegm (sputum) Fever and chills; General discomfort, uneasiness, or ill feeling (malaise) Loss of appetite; Nausea and vomiting
When signs of pneumonia are discovered during evaluation, chest X-rays and examination of the blood and sputum for infectious microorganisms may be done to support a diagnosis of CAP. The diagnostic tools employed will depend on the severity of illness, local practices and concern about complications of the infection.
Onset of symptoms is often gradual, but in necrotizing staphylococcal or gram-negative bacillary pneumonias patients can be acutely ill. Cough, fever with shivering, and night sweats are often present. Cough can be productive of foul-smelling, purulent mucus (≈70%) or less frequently with blood in one-third of cases. [3]