what will happen if food accidentally enter lungs?

Answer 1

You will develop aspiration pneumonia. Aspiration pneumonia is caused by inhaling foreign material (usually food, liquids, vomit, or secretions from the mouth) into the lungs. This may lead to an inflammatory reaction, a lung infection (pneumonia), or a collection of pus in the lungs (lung abscess).

Some people may require hospitalization. Treatment varies depending on the severity of the pneumonia.

The outcome depends on the severity of the pneumonia, the type of material, and the extent of lung involvement. If acute respiratory failure develops, the patient may have a prolonged illness or die.

Answer 2

Wow, lots of interesting answers here... You can get aspiration pneumonia, and you wont know until symptoms arise. The lungs should eventually break it down, and assuming you have healthy normal lungs, you will cough it up in little bits over time. Food and drink accidentally go into the lungs occasionally. You should be fine, but monitor your symptoms for a while, and it wouldn't be a bad idea to see your doctor anyways. Better safe than sorry.

Answer 3

You will choke because , it depends on the size of the food, it could completely occlude your trachea and air cannot get in and most of the time if nothing is done about it, it causes death. If only flecks of food enters the lungs, it can definitely cause aspiration pneumonia and again, if nothing is done about it one can die from its complications.

Answer 4

Much before that you will start coughing. But if it really enters lungs, it can set up an inflammation etc. Check with your doctor if needed or check with www.webmd.com

Answer 5

The other night I felt like I inhaled a piece of potato chip. A little while later I kept coughing and coughing and some phlegm came up with the piece of chip in it.

Answer 6

- First you would develop aspiration pneumonitis, clasically described in pregnant women. There is nothing to do but wait, and avoid further aspirations.

- Second the pneumonitis can progress to pneumonia and then you would develop fever, chest pain, sob and cough.

You would need antibiotics for pneumonia not pneumonitis.

Answer 7

it is called aspiration and can have several complications:
if large enough it can block part of the airway, it also can provoke an infection, it can cause cough.
if it was only one episode and it was spit (coughed) out right away the problem is resolved with probably no consequences

Answer 8

you will probably have a bad case of pnemonia and vomet. Go see your doctor right away.