Learning About Aspiration Pneumonia in Children

What is aspiration pneumonia?

Aspiration pneumonia is an inflammation of your child's lungs. It may have happened after your child breathed in (aspirated) foreign material, such as food, liquid, vomit, or mucus.

Aspiration may have happened because your child has a health problem that makes it hard to swallow normally.

Pneumonia makes it hard for your child to breathe. Your child may get medicines to help with breathing. Or your child may need oxygen.

Your child may get fluids and medicines through a tube in a vein (intravenous, I.V.).

What are the symptoms?

Your child's symptoms may include:

• Fever, cough, or trouble breathing.
• Chest pain from coughing.

How is it treated?

• The doctor may give your child antibiotics.
• Your child may get medicines to help with breathing, coughing, and fever.
• Mild pneumonia often goes away in 2 to 3 weeks. Your child may need 6 to 8 weeks or longer to recover from a bad case.
• If their symptoms are severe, your child may need to be treated in the hospital.
• Your doctor will want you to keep your child away from smoke. Do not smoke or allow anyone else to smoke in your house.