Causes

• Aspiration of foreign materials into the lungs can be caused by anesthesia, absent or decreased gag reflex, excessive alcohol use, sedatives, old age, problems swallowing, disorders of the esophagus, dental problems, certain medications and acid reflux. Acidic aspiration found in those who have severe acid reflux can cause lung injury.
  
  

Symptoms

• Some symptoms of aspiration are cough, chest pain, bluish skin due to the lack of oxygen, fever, fatigue, wheezing and shortness of breath.
  
  

Tests

• Tests used to determine aspiration are a chest X-ray, CT scan of the chest, CBC blood test, sputum culture and blood culture.
  
  

Treatments

• If aspiration causes pneumonia, the person may need to be hospitalized. Antibiotics, inhalers and oxygen may also be used to treat pneumonia caused by aspiration.