What happens if food enters the lungs. Water or food has entered the respiratory tract: treatment. How can a foreign body enter the respiratory tract. If you choke on water, what measures should be taken? Water entering the lungs while swimming

How can water get into the lungs? and got the best answer

Answer from Alexander Balakhonov[master]
Pulmonary edema due to congestion in the pulmonary circulation.
The vessel wall is permeable, water is retained in it due to the sum of osmotic pressure, tissue pressure and hydraulic pressure. With stagnation, the pressure difference between the vessel and lung tissue (normally negative) becomes positive, that is, it increases in the vessel. And water (more precisely, liquid, since salts are dissolved in it, etc.) begins to sweat into the lungs, into the alveoli, and accumulates in the lower sections. Hence wheezing, shortness of breath, etc.
The same can be with some inflammatory reactions.
But to pump it out of the lungs like that - I have not heard of this. Either the drowned people are pumped out, or during stagnation, the cause of stagnation is treated, and it goes away by itself.
Maybe there was hydrothorax - sweating of fluid from the vessels into the pleural cavity. Here then yes - do or make a puncture (puncture) and pump out.
How to find out:
1 - percussion. Dullness of sound in the lower lungs
2 - auscultation. Wheezing is heard. They can be heard even without a phonendoscope.
3 - x-ray.
Hydrothorax:
1 - percussion - a short percussion sound over a cavity with water. Will be shortened. The line of Damoiseau is revealed.
2 - auscultatory little can be understood. Breath sounds may be absent.
3 - X-ray - we see a blackout. - an example of a picture.
But first, the cause. Otherwise, the treatment may be incorrect.

Answer from Galina Chadrintseva[guru]
in inflammatory processes and lung diseases


Answer from ? [guru]
yes, it's sick. and pumping out this moisture is done with the largest syringe, the body and lung are pierced from the back, etc. When the water in the lungs is difficult to breathe, there is a feeling of choking.


Answer from Ѝй)[guru]
I know, only when a person drowns, he cannot breathe and water enters his lungs! So you ask your mom!


Answer from Zulechka Hissing[expert]
The most common is pneumonia. First of all, you need to take an x-ray.


Answer from 3 answers[guru]

Hey! Here is a selection of topics with answers to your question: How can water get into the lungs?

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Making the first flight by plane, anyone can feel insecure - civil aviation

The beginning of the beach season implies not only fun activities in the water, but also the appearance of some risks. First of all, there is a risk that the child cannot choke while bathing. In this case, adults need to clearly understand what to do if water gets into the child's lungs.

What is the danger of a condition when water gets into the lungs of a child?

The presence of fluid in the lungs can cause inflammation of the tissues, possibly causing pulmonary insufficiency, and this condition is life-threatening for the child. In order for the child to begin to breathe normally, everything must be done to remove water from the respiratory tract.

What needs to be done in order to remove water from the lungs of a child?

First of all, it is necessary to study the correct sequence of first aid for a person who has got water in his lungs. First you need to figure out how much water the child swallowed.

If a child does not get a very large amount of water into the lungs, then he is unlikely to lose consciousness, rather he will have a strong cough.

The fact that there is already water in the lungs is indicated by the color of the child's skin. If the baby's skin turns bluish, it means that the water has reached the lungs and there is a large amount of water there. If the skin is pale, then this indicates that the water has not yet reached the lungs. In this case, the child may lose consciousness.

While the child is unconscious, water that enters the lungs will come out as a foamy liquid. Fluid can come out not only from the mouth, but from the nose.

Watch the video film "Water got into the lungs of a child":

First of all, you need to make sure that an ambulance is called. It is also necessary to take active steps to remove water from the lungs and resume breathing. To do this, artificial respiration is necessary for the child. However, before this, it is necessary to remove water from the lungs. To do this, you can tilt the child's head and tap between the shoulder blades on the back.

Sometimes such actions do not give the desired result, and it simply does not work to remove water from the lungs. In this case, another method can be used, but it will only be effective if the child is conscious.

It is necessary to ask the victim to stand up and put his hand, clenched into a fist, on the lower abdomen (below the ribs), however, the hands are above the navel. Then you need to sharply push and put pressure on the stomach.

Such manipulations can be performed several times, it helps to normalize breathing and water comes out of the lungs.

If a child has a lot of water in his lungs, then most likely he is in an unconscious state, and such measures will be effective: it is necessary to turn the person to face the ground, and lean his chest on his knee. Then you need to cause a gag reflex in a person, for this you need to press on the root of the tongue. Perform cotton movements on the back between the shoulder blades. It is also necessary to constantly monitor the heartbeat of the child.

If such manipulations do not help, it is necessary to do artificial respiration and heart massage. In such a rhythm, it is necessary to work until the ambulance arrives, and then transfer control over the situation to specialists.

Talk about the rules of behavior on the water, control the children. As a rule, children who do not know or grossly violate the rules of behavior on the water get into such situations.

If fluid accumulates in the lungs, this always indicates the presence of a disease. This phenomenon can be observed in the following cases:


It is very dangerous. Most neoplasms in the lung area are malignant. Therefore, they should be removed as soon as possible.

  • Tuberculosis. In this case, purulent sputum, particles of blood and lung tissue accumulate in the lungs due to the onset of organ decay.
  • Injuries in the chest area. They lead to various ruptures, which entail the accumulation of exudate. The fluid is formed gradually, the patient also notes severe pain in the area of ​​injury. Perhaps blueing of the place where the blow fell.
  • Diseases of the internal organs, leading to an inflammatory process in the pleura. Often this occurs with cirrhosis of the liver.

Pathology may appear after heart surgery. The organ begins to work with some failures, so blood can be thrown into the lungs. This is a fairly common phenomenon that occurs approximately 1-2 weeks after surgery, so doctors prepare the patient for possible complications in advance.

Water in the lungs can also be from outside. For example, if a person choked. Part of the liquid may remain in the respiratory tract, and then it will enter the main respiratory organ.

Each of the above pathologies is dangerous in its own way. The sooner treatment is started, the greater the chance that recovery will come quickly without provoking serious complications.

Fluid accumulation in older people

Fluid in the lungs of the elderly may accumulate due to long-term use of acetylsalicylic acid. Old people drink it to relieve pain.

In addition, water in the lungs of the elderly may occur due to their sedentary lifestyle. This leads to a violation of the pulmonary circulation, stagnation occurs. Therefore, to prevent such phenomena, older people need to move more.

Main manifestations

In the presence of fluid in the lungs of a person, a variety of symptoms are tormented. Their severity depends on the amount of accumulated exudate. The patient may experience the following symptoms:


If any of the above symptoms occur, you should immediately consult a doctor. Otherwise, there is a possibility of developing serious complications.

Diagnostic studies

The diagnosis is made only after a series of diagnostic procedures. These include:

  • Examine the patient and listen to his lungs. The doctor must ask the patient what exactly worries him in order to have at least the slightest idea of ​​\u200b\u200bthe pathology.
  • X-ray or fluorography. This is the most informative diagnostic method. Changes are clearly visible on the x-ray. The affected area is shaded.
  • Blood tests to determine whether a person has colds, whether the immune system is functioning normally.

Sometimes a differential diagnosis is required if the doctor cannot make an accurate diagnosis. In this case, additional diagnostic procedures may be performed.

How to treat

The causes and treatment of fluid in the lungs are interrelated. The doctor can prescribe therapy only after the name of the disease that provoked unpleasant symptoms is called. In almost 100% of cases, hospitalization of the patient is required.

Treatment can be conservative or surgical. Taking medication gives a result only if a little fluid has accumulated. To eliminate the disease, the following drugs can be used:



Is it treated at home? Self-medication for any disease accompanied by fluid accumulation can be very dangerous to health. The person may choke.

If taking medication does not give any result, the doctor adjusts the treatment regimen. In this case, it may be necessary to pump out the accumulated liquid.

How fluid is pumped out of the lungs

If fluid has accumulated in the pleural cavity, it must be pumped out. A healthy person also has it, but its amount does not exceed 2 ml. If more than 10 ml of fluid has accumulated, it must be removed. After pumping out, the patient's breathing should normalize, suffocation will pass.


Usually they resort to pumping out a liquid that has a non-infectious nature. It's called a transudate. If the pathology is associated with an inflammatory process, it must first be cured. If after that the liquid remains, it will need to be removed.

Before the procedure, the patient does not require special preparation. The process is performed according to the following algorithm:

  • The patient should sit down, bend forward, and put his hands on a special table.
  • Local anesthesia is performed. An injection of novocaine is also given to avoid pain. The puncture site is determined in advance on the basis of data obtained during ultrasound or X-ray.
  • The skin is wiped with alcohol. Then the doctor begins to make a puncture. He must act very carefully so as not to hurt the nerve endings and blood vessels. The depth must also be correct. If the needle is inserted too deep, it can damage the lung.

The doctor must insert the needle until there is a sense of failure. The upper layer of the lung is denser than its contents.

  • After that, the doctor pumps out the accumulated fluid.
  • At the end, the puncture site is treated with an antiseptic solution, and a sterile bandage is applied to its place.

In one procedure, no more than a liter of transudate can be removed from the lungs. If this limit is exceeded, serious complications may appear, up to and including death.

Pumping fluid should be carried out by an experienced specialist. You can not trust this procedure to an ambulance worker or a person without training. It must be performed under sterile conditions.

How many times can fluid be pumped out of the lungs

The number of repetitions of the procedure is determined by the attending physician. It is important to eliminate the reason why the liquid is collected. After that, it will accumulate less, so it will need to be pumped out less frequently until the need for this completely disappears.

Folk remedies for fluid stagnation

Treatment with folk remedies is possible only if there is an accumulation of a small amount of fluid. In very advanced cases, such therapy is very dangerous. The following remedies are effective for removing stagnant mucus:



It is impossible to completely remove the liquid at home. Requires the use of special tools. In addition, it is impossible to make a correct diagnosis on your own. And taking inappropriate funds may not give any result.

recovery forecasts

If therapy is started on time, the prognosis is favorable. The disease can be cured without the appearance of complications for the body. After that, people live a full life.

But if you hesitate and do not see a doctor on time, the consequences can be disastrous. The swelling will increase, squeezing the airways. The person may die due to respiratory failure.

Fluid in the lungs is always very dangerous. If the patient suspects this pathology, you should immediately go to the hospital. It can also take time to make a diagnosis. And in some cases, even a watch is important to save a person's life.

Source: pulmono.ru

First aid for water inhalation

The sequence of actions to help the victim depends on how much water has entered his body through the respiratory tract. Some conclusions can be drawn from the appearance of a person. If the victim chokes on a small amount of water, he will cough, hold on to his throat, his face may turn red. If at the same time the skin is pale, then the water has not reached the lungs.



The bluish color of the skin indicates that water has entered the lungs. The person turns blue, loses consciousness. Foamy liquid in such cases can pour out of the mouth and nose. Then you should immediately call an ambulance and immediately begin to do artificial respiration. If a person chokes on a sip of liquid while drinking, they tilt his head and tap between the shoulder blades on his back.

If such measures do not bring results, but the victim is conscious, then you can try the Heimlich method. The sequence of actions should be like this:

  1. You should stand behind the patient.
  2. The hand is clenched into a fist.
  3. The thumb should be placed on the upper abdomen under the ribs, above the navel (epigastric region).
  4. The other hand grabs a fist and pushes up, while the stomach is pressed in.

Such movements are performed several times until the person's breathing returns to normal.

If a person has swallowed a lot of water, then the following manipulations are performed:

  1. The chest of the victim is placed on his knee, his face is turned down.
  2. You need to press your finger on the root of the tongue to induce a gag reflex.
  3. You just need to do claps on the back, tap gently between the shoulder blades.

If this does not help, artificial respiration is done, alternating it with an indirect heart massage. 30 clicks are made on the heart, then 2 breaths, and the cycle repeats again.

Such actions are taken before the arrival of the ambulance. If necessary, the doctor can refer the patient to the hospital. You may need to take an X-ray to make sure that there is no water in the lungs and trachea. The doctor will prescribe the necessary treatment, select antibiotics and medicines.

If water gets into the child's lungs

If the child is small, then he should always be supervised. After all, a baby can choke even in a shallow pond or at home, swimming in the bathroom. A child, being under water, is often frightened and continues to breathe. And then the airways are filled with fluid, which can get into the lungs. There is a spasm of the vocal cords. It becomes impossible for him to breathe.

If water has entered the lungs of a child, then the following actions should be taken:

  1. Wrap your finger with a bandage, gauze or other clean cloth that is at hand. Then with your finger try to clean the victim's mouth from foam, mucus, possibly dirt and sand.

  2. If someone is nearby, let him call an ambulance. After all, the rescuer needs to act at this time.
  3. You should bend the leg and put the child on the knee so that his head hangs down. Next, with force, but gently press several times on the back in the area of ​​​​the lungs (or pat on the back). This will help free the lungs from water.
  4. If a very small child has swallowed water in the pool or bathroom, then you need to grab him by the legs and raise him so that his head is down. In this case, with the other hand, the lower jaw of the child should be pressed against the upper one so that the tongue does not interfere with the exit of water from the larynx.
  5. When the water leaves the lungs, artificial respiration is done. If the heart does not beat, you should immediately switch to chest compressions.

Everything must be done quickly, without waiting for the help of doctors, because every minute is precious.

Do not rush to take the victim to the hospital, time may be lost. If the child himself cannot breathe, artificial ventilation of the lungs is carried out.

When the child comes to his senses, he must be dried, allowed to warm up, drink hot tea. And then take him to the hospital, where he will be examined and the necessary measures will be taken to prevent complications. It should be borne in mind that the child's heart may be unstable for some time.

Each person is obliged to learn how to provide first aid in case someone gets water into their lungs. It is important to know how to behave in other emergencies in order to save the life of a child or an adult if necessary.

Source: elaxsir.ru

Fluid in the lungs appears due to the penetration of the walls of the tissues of the lung due to a violation of their integrity. In this case, swelling of the lung tissues and the formation of exudate are observed. Turbid content seeps into the alveoli. This condition can be caused by:

  • inflammatory processes of lung tissues with pleurisy, tuberculosis intoxication and pneumonia;
  • with a weak heartbeat;
  • in heart failure, when the presence of fluid affects the increase in blood pressure;
  • congenital and hereditary heart diseases (malformation);
  • trauma to the chest and lungs;
  • with brain injuries;
  • during operations on the brain;
  • with pneumothorax;
  • oncological neoplasms;
  • renal or hepatic insufficiency;
  • in severe cases of cirrhosis of the liver.

Among other reasons, doctors call bacterial and viral etiology. It is possible that swelling and the appearance of fluid in the lung tissue are the result of systemic disorders of the body due to diseases: lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, thromboembolism of the arteries of the lung, aneurysms and hemodialysis.

The physiological state during illness is related to how much fluid has accumulated in the walls of the lungs. Fluid symptoms:

  1. The appearance of shortness of breath. Doctors consider this phenomenon the most important symptom. If the disease increases gradually, then shortness of breath may border on fatigue and vice versa. These signs appear in a fairly calm state and can occur without any reason. In acute cases, the patient may suffocate.
  2. With the aggravation of the disease, a cough appears and mucus may be secreted. Against the background of these processes, dizziness, tachycardia, nervous breakdown and hunger appear.
  3. Some patients feel pain in the lower part of the chest, with severe coughing attacks they intensify.
  4. The symptom of oxygen starvation provokes a cyanotic tint of the skin.
  5. In some cases, patients become restless, and nervous disorders are observed.

Attacks of coughing and shortness of breath most often appear in the early morning. At other times of the day, coughing is provoked by stressful conditions, physical activity, or chills during hypothermia. Against the background of heart failure, coughing can cause restless sleep.

Pulmonary formation of edema and fluid is a rather life-threatening disease. The blood vessels do not transport oxygen in the prescribed volume, and the nutrition of the lungs is insufficient. Hypoxia of the lungs increases with an increase in accumulated fluid and swelling of the lung tissue. The consequence of this phenomenon may be weakened or rapid breathing. Exacerbates swelling of the lungs intermittent cough. With such symptomatic attacks, the secretion of mucus increases, and the patient feels fear of death, showing external anxiety. By external signs, symptoms can be observed: pallor and chills of the body. In this case, the body temperature decreases. The symptom of pulmonary edema can be observed in the elderly.

If the first symptoms of swelling of the lung tissues are detected, preventive measures should be taken immediately and the patient should be sent to a medical institution. If this is not done, then in most cases the presence of such symptoms leads to death.

When the first symptoms appear, the patient is sent for a diagnostic study. This can be done quickly and results can be obtained within a short period of time.

To determine the exact diagnosis, the doctor will need to take a history of symptoms, make the patient a chest x-ray and ultrasound of the lungs. In the latter case, the presence and amount of liquid exudate in the lung tissues is determined. Additional biochemical tests of blood, urine, and pulmonary exudate may be required to more accurately determine the diagnosis. Medical protocols define the following list of doctor's actions in the presence of the above symptoms in a patient:

  • classification of patient complaints;
  • examination and determination of the general condition (measurement of body temperature, determination of the color of the skin);
  • the conclusion of the X-ray examination;
  • ultrasound data;
  • analysis of blood, urine and exudate.

For additional diagnostics, an anamnesis is used in terms of studying pressure in the lung tissues, they study an analysis of blood coagulability, exclude or vice versa, diagnose a symptom of a heart muscle infarction. In the anamnesis of the patient's disease, biochemical analyzes and the presence of concomitant diseases - kidneys, liver and brain are carefully checked.

In case of concomitant symptoms, complex treatment is prescribed.

A complex of therapeutic measures is applied depending on the history of the disease and the severity of the patient. In the treatment of swelling of the lung tissue, methods are used:

  1. In heart failure, treatment is carried out on the basis of the use of diuretics. Diuretics help to remove excess fluid from the body, thereby reducing the load on the lung tissue.
  2. If the cause of the disease is an infectious environment, then antiseptic and antibiotic drugs are used in complex treatment.
  3. The cause of the appearance of pulmonary exudate can be explained by renal failure during hemodialysis. In this case, the method of artificial removal of excess fluid from the patient's body is used. For these purposes, a catheter is used.
  4. In severe cases, a ventilator is used. This maintains the general condition of the patient. Oxygen inhalations are also possible.

With a symptom of severe shortness of breath, fluid will be pumped out. To do this, a catheter is inserted into the lung cavity.

ethnoscience

The accumulation of fluid in the lungs is a dangerous phenomenon requiring hospitalization of the patient. However, in case of improvement in the condition, it is possible to deal with this problem with folk remedies.

A decoction of anise seeds will help. Anise seeds in the amount of 3 tsp boil in a glass of honey for 15 minutes. Then add ½ teaspoon of soda there and you can take it orally.

Flaxseed decoction: Boil 4 tablespoons of flaxseeds in a liter of water, then let it brew. Strain and take orally every 2.5 hours for 100-150 ml.

You can carefully grind the cyanosis root -1 tbsp. l. pour water - 0.5 l. and placed in a water bath for 40 minutes. Then all this must be filtered and taken during the day, 50 ml. You can take up to 4 times a day.

The treatment of pulmonary edema and the removal of accumulated fluid is a very complex process and requires patience and endurance of the patient. At the slightest suspicion of pulmonary edema, one should not neglect treatment and take one's health lightly. Moreover, prescribe yourself treatment in the form of antibiotics or antiviral drugs. This is not the case “I will lie down, and everything will pass”, it is necessary to treat it. Delay in medical care can cost the patient's life.

Possible consequences

With minor symptoms and the presence of fluid in the lungs, there is a positive trend in the treatment of such a disease. If all precautions and recommendations of doctors are observed, then a favorable outcome of treatment is inevitable. This mainly occurs with pleurisy or pneumonia, unless there are complications of another etiology. Severe forms of the disease and consequences can complicate further rehabilitation of recovery.

The consequences of severe edema may be deterioration in lung function, chronic conditions of hypoxia. A serious consequence of such a violation in the functioning of the pulmonary system can be an imbalance in the nervous system and the functioning of the brain. The consequences of the disease can provoke chronic diseases of the liver and kidneys. And disturbances in the work of the brain can cause vegetative-vascular disorders, strokes and lead to death. As a result, the prevention of diseases of the pulmonary system is important.

Preventive measures

It is impossible to exclude the risk of disease. Especially if the factors of a bacterial-infected environment can become the reason for this. It is impossible to save yourself from infectious pleurisy or pneumonia. But it is important to know the precautions during seasonal periods.

Patients with chronic diseases of the cardiovascular system should undergo a study at least 2 times a year.

Swelling of the lungs can provoke allergic reactions. Therefore, people prone to allergies should constantly use antihistamines or avoid provoking allergens as much as possible.

When in contact with harmful substances (chemical production, accidents at chemical plants), one should not forget about protective measures - a respirator and a protective suit. For such people, regular preventive examinations are provided.

An important role in the prevention of diseases of the pulmonary system is played by a healthy lifestyle, smoking cessation. This is not only about swelling, but also other lung diseases that this harmful addiction can provoke.

Recent studies by scientists have identified another reason for the appearance of fluid in the lungs - the ingress of toxic substances and carcinogens that tobacco smoke contains. Nicotinic substances that enter the lungs are transported through the vessels to other organs and systems and provoke chronic diseases. At the slightest opportunity, you should independently abandon this bad habit or seek help from a psychotherapist.

Basically, water in the lungs, with proper treatment, can have a favorable outcome.

Even after recovery, you should constantly monitor your well-being and respiratory system and constantly consult in the clinic.

Especially during seasonal temperature fluctuations.

Pulmonary edema is a condition caused by excessive accumulation of fluid in it. Water in the lungs interferes with normal respiratory function, causing the blood to receive too little oxygen and can no longer release enough carbon dioxide into the air. Since the accumulation of fluid in the main respiratory organ can be fatal, you should consult a doctor when the first symptoms appear.

What is fluid in the lungs

Fluid buildup in the lungs develops when the pressure inside the blood vessels (hydrostatic) increases or the back pressure (oncotic) that keeps blood in the vessels falls. In this case, the liquid can freely exit the vessels. Gradually accumulated water in the lungs begins to interfere with gas exchange between the blood and the respiratory air.

As it progresses, fluid enters the alveoli (alveolar pulmonary edema) and the lungs absorb significantly less air than necessary. Shortness of breath initially occurs during physical activity (shortness of breath on exertion), and then at rest.

The disease can be acute, that is, with a sudden deterioration in breathing, or have a chronic form. In chronic disease, breathing problems occur gradually and worsen over time.

Symptoms of water in the lungs

The main symptom of water in the lungs is shortness of breath, that is, shortness of breath, which is manifested by a subjective feeling of "air hunger" and an increase in the frequency of respiratory actions (tachypnea, accelerated breathing).

In case of acute pulmonary edema, breathing worsens when lying down and may be accompanied by symptoms such as;

  • gasps or hisses;
  • anxiety;
  • increased sweating;
  • cough (sometimes with blood);
  • pallor;
  • cardiopalmus;
  • chest pain.

Chronic edema is characterized by difficulty in breathing, with any physical effort:

  • dyspnea;
  • nocturnal awakenings from shortness of breath;
  • loss of appetite;
  • swelling of the lower extremities (swollen feet and ankles);
  • constant fatigue.

Shortness of breath can be of varying intensity, from mild to respiratory failure. It directly depends on the severity of the disease that caused the formation of water in the lungs. The progressive accumulation of fluid at the bronchial and alveolar levels causes the appearance of pathological breath sounds that are well heard during auscultation of the chest.

signs

The accumulation of water in the lungs has different causes and consequences. Depending on which of the causes causes pulmonary edema, there may be different signs of the disease. However, there are several common ones, regardless of the cause of the disease.

  • Shortness of breath on exertion.
  • Difficulty breathing that occurs when doing even light physical work and makes you stop to catch your breath.
  • Orthopnea: Difficulty breathing that occurs when lying down.
  • Night cough that is relieved by sitting or using multiple pillows during the night.
  • Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnoea: Acute and severe episodes of dyspnea, coughing that occur at night or on waking. While orthopnea can be relieved by sitting on the edge of the bed with legs hanging down (a position that reduces venous return to the heart and relieves fluid overload to which the pulmonary circulation is subjected), paroxysmal dyspnea does not improve even after this position is adopted.
  • Cheyne-Stokes breathing (periodic or cyclic breathing). It is caused by increased sensitivity of the nerve centers that regulate breathing to the partial pressure of carbon dioxide in the arterial blood (PCO2). It is characterized by phases of apnea, alternating with hyperventilation.
  • Isolation of sputum mixed with blood due to rupture of the veins of the bronchi.
  • Excessive sweating: Caused by increased adrenergic tone.

Also a sign of water in the lungs is a bluish discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes, which occurs due to a decrease in oxygen saturation of hemoglobin.

Causes

The accumulation of fluid in the lungs can be due to various reasons, but is mainly caused by heart problems. Due to water in the lungs in heart failure, there may be cardiogenic or non-cardiogenic edema.


Any condition that changes the structure or function of the left ventricle of the heart can cause cardiogenic pulmonary edema. The main causes of cardiogenic edema are:

  • cardiac ischemia;
  • ischemia and myocardial infarction;
  • high blood pressure;
  • heart valve disorders;
  • congenital or acquired myocardiopathies;
  • changes in heart rhythm (arrhythmia).

These causes of water in the lungs are more common in older people.

In non-cardiogenic edema, the increase in fluid is due to damage to the surface of the pulmonary capillary, followed by leakage of proteins, water, and other molecules into the tissues.

The most common causes of non-cardiogenic edema can be divided into three categories:

  • Direct lung injury from aspiration, inhalation of toxic gases, pneumonia, pulmonary embolism and subsequent reperfusion following chest trauma.
  • Indirect lesions: due to general inflammation of the whole body and the presence of substances that enter the lungs through the blood circulation and damage the capillaries (sepsis, pancreatitis, non-chest trauma, opiate overdose, changes in the permeability of the alveolar capillary membrane - ARDS, shock).
  • Acute changes in pulmonary vascular pressure: changes in the nerve centers responsible for regulating blood pressure (neurogenic pulmonary edema) or high-altitude pulmonary edema.

Diagnostics

When making a diagnosis, special attention is paid to the patient's medical history, analysis of comorbidities, assessment of symptoms and signs that can be seen during a physical examination. The type of laboratory research is assigned in accordance with the clinical characteristics of a particular case. To make the correct diagnosis, usually appoint:

  • general analysis of blood and urine;
  • electrocardiogram;
  • chest x-ray;
  • echocardiography.

If it is necessary to assess the pressure in the left ventricle, then cardiac catheterization is performed. If coronary artery disease is suspected, coronary angiography is done. To confirm the suspicion of a pulmonary embolism, computed tomography is prescribed.

Treatment

The choice of treatment depends on the specific pathology that caused the swelling. When there is life-threatening water accumulation in the lungs, a number of general measures are taken to support circulation, gas exchange, and pulmonary mechanics. They include:

  • support for ventilation and oxygenation;
  • oxygen therapy;
  • positive pressure ventilation using a face mask, nasal mask, or endotracheal intubation;
  • decrease in the amount of extravascular fluid by administering diuretics.

ACE inhibitor drugs are indicated in patients with hypertension and reduce arterial and venous pressure. Depending on the pathology, other therapeutic agents or different categories of drugs may be used.

Probably, this situation is familiar to everyone: he was in a hurry to eat quickly on the go, swallowed large pieces or talked while eating, and as a result, he choked. Asphyxia, which occurs when a foreign body (food, in this case) enters the respiratory tract, is very dangerous for human life. If emergency measures are not taken, oxygen will not enter the brain, the person subsequently loses consciousness. If breathing is not restored in time, the victim may die in a couple of minutes.

If n a person is able to clear his throat. The best way to help him is to give a napkin or handkerchief to wipe his tears. In this situation, it is a natural defensive reaction n a small piece of food got into the respiratory tract, a function of the body that helps push an object out of the trachea, making it difficult to breathe. In this case, it is not necessary to interfere with a person with some other manipulations.
If you are choking, you need to straighten up and try to slowly inhale, and then exhale sharply, while bending at the waist. Thanks to this simple method, you will be able to cough better.
In no case should the victim be slapped on the back, as this can provoke the advancement of the foreign body even deeper and completely block breathing. But, if in a few minutes a person did not cough up what got into the trachea, or a large piece of food completely blocked it, stopping the respiratory process, you need to help the victim faster.

The fact that a person's life is in danger may be evidenced by the bluish-red color of his face, the inability to breathe. In this case, the victim may clutch at the throat or chest.
Call an ambulance. And before the arrival of doctors, take care of saving lives yourself. The Heimlich method will help here, which consists of the following activities:

  • Stand behind the back of the choking person, wrap your arms around him.
  • Clench one hand into a fist. Place your fist with the side where the thumb is located on the stomach in the area between the place where the ribs converge and the navel.
  • The palm of the other hand should be placed on top of the fist.
  • Sharply press your fist into your stomach, bending your arms at the elbows. In this case, you can not squeeze the chest.

Such movements must be repeated until breathing resumes, or until the person is conscious.
If the person who is choking has lost consciousness, you need to put him on a hard surface, face up. Cover your head with something cold. Then, with a strong push, press on the upper part of his abdomen, about 10 cm below the solar plexus. It is necessary to repeat until the resumption of the respiratory process.

When such a nuisance happened to a nursing baby, in order to resume breathing, put the baby on your arm so that his face is in your palm. Tilt the axis of his body forward, and the child's legs should be located on both sides of the adult's forearm. Then clap your palm between his shoulder blades until the baby coughs up the foreign body into your hand. If nothing comes out in this way, you can also use the Heimlich method, but carefully calculate your strength.

If you are choking and there is no one to help, you can also use this method. Place your fist on the area between your navel and where your ribs meet. Push in and up. Also, instead of a fist, the edge of the table, the railing or the back of the chair can protrude.

After normal breathing is restored, a person may also cough. Therefore, everything exactly needs to see a doctor to exclude the possibility that at least a small piece of food will remain in the airways.

Air enters the lungs through the trachea. When you exhale, the air from the lungs again enters the trachea. When swallowing, the epiglottis closes the entrance to the larynx, preventing food from entering the trachea. Thus, the epiglottis, upper larynx, vocal cords, and cough reflex are reliable defense mechanisms that prevent foreign bodies from entering the trachea. When a foreign object enters the trachea and the upper part of the larynx, pain occurs, spasm of the larynx, suffocation, the voice becomes hoarse or disappears altogether. If the protective mechanism does not work, then saliva, food or foreign bodies enter the respiratory tract. As a result, there is a strong cough and gag reflex. Thanks to these reflexes, a foreign object is removed from the trachea. If the foreign body cannot be removed, then breathing is disturbed, air does not enter the lungs. The person begins to choke, which causes him a strong fright. If a foreign object is not removed in a timely manner, then the person dies of suffocation.

Various foreign bodies can get into the trachea: small objects, pieces of food, powdered substances, etc.

small items

The risk group includes small children who pull any objects into their mouths. Children often choke on small pieces of food. Foreign objects can get not only into the trachea. They can also get stuck in the back of the mouth or in the throat. When a foreign object gets stuck, swelling of the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract occurs, which makes it difficult to remove the body.

Food fragments can get into the trachea when swallowing, for example, a piece that is too large. In an unconscious person, food can also enter the trachea. The fact is that when a person is unconscious, his body muscles relax and the contents of the stomach rise up.

Powdered substances

Powdered substances are very often inhaled by young children (for example, when playing with powder or flour). When inhaled, particles of a powdered substance penetrate deep into the trachea and, falling on the bronchi, stick them together.

Signs of a foreign object entering the trachea

The person providing first aid cannot see a foreign object in the airways. Its presence can be suspected by the characteristic symptoms:

  • Sudden cough.
  • Suffocation.
  • Strong fright.
  • Blueness of the skin (cyanosis).

First aid

The first aid provider must:

  • Keep calm, don't panic.
  • Reassure the victim.
  • Ask him to breathe calmly and control his breathing movements.

The best way to remove a foreign object from the trachea is a strong blow between the shoulder blades. The force of the blow should depend on the age of the victim. In addition, you can stand behind the victim, wrap your arms around him so that the hands folded into the lock are with the victim above the epigastric region, and sharply press on the epigastric region. As a result of these actions, air is pushed out of the lungs, and with it the foreign body. First aid for children and adults is different.

Foreign object in the trachea in children

  • Bend over the child while supporting him with one hand.
  • With the other hand, strike between the shoulder blades.

Previously, to remove a foreign body from the respiratory tract, the child was taken by the legs and, holding in this position, was tapped between the shoulder blades. However, due to possible injuries, this method is not currently used.

Help for babies

  • Lay your baby on your arm, belly down.
  • You must support his head with your hand. Make sure that your fingers do not cover his mouth.
  • Hit the child hard on the back (between the shoulder blades).

Help for an adult

  • Get on one knee.
  • Bend the victim over your knee.
  • Strike hard between the shoulder blades.

If after applying 2-3 blows to the back (between the shoulder blades) the foreign object is not removed, then urgently call an ambulance.

What to do if you choke, how to properly help the victim, and how to help yourself on your own?

Foreign body in the airways: how to recognize

How to recognize if a person has a foreign body stuck in the airways? Here are a few main signs:

  • . The victim has a cough, lacrimation and redness of the face.
  • Complicated breathing. Sometimes there is almost no breathing, cyanosis may appear around the lips.
  • . This is the final stage in which the victim stops breathing. After some time, cardiac arrest is possible, followed by clinical death. If the person loses consciousness, cardiopulmonary resuscitation should be performed immediately.

First aid for a foreign body in the respiratory tract

The first thing to understand is to determine whether a person is breathing or not. If the victim is breathing at least somehow, then he should be told to cough harder. Often these words (and the corresponding actions of the victim) are enough for a small foreign body to come out of the respiratory tract on its own. If within 30 seconds a person could not breathe, then it should be applied. What does it consist of?

  • You should stand behind the victim.
  • Grab the victim's torso with both hands. Cover the fist of your right hand with the palm of your left hand. Now with the knuckle of the thumb of the right hand, make five strong pressures on the upper abdomen. The direction should be up and towards you. If the foreign body is removed, then the victim will recover breathing.

The Heimlich method is carried out until the foreign body leaves the respiratory tract. If during these events the victim lost consciousness, then the Heimlich method should be stopped, and instead, cardiopulmonary resuscitation should be started.

To understand what happens when you choke, you must first understand how the back of your throat works. Everything you eat and the air you breathe passes through your throat to enter your body.

Food and liquid passes through the larynx into the esophagus, then into the stomach. The air goes down into another branch - the trachea or windpipe, and from there it enters the lungs. Both of these paths start at the back of the throat.

And if both holes are open, how does food get into one and air into the other? Fortunately for us, our body keeps everything under control. Next to the windpipe is the epiglottis, which comes into action every time you swallow. It closes the "little door" that prevents food from entering the respiratory tract, and directs it through the esophagus to the stomach.

But if you laugh or talk while eating, the epiglottis does not have time to close in time. Food particles can slide down and enter the windpipe. If the particles are small, your body will easily force them out of the wrong place, forcing you.

Heimlich method in children

If a foreign body is lodged in the airway of a child under 1 year of age, the rescuer should sit down, lay the child face down on the left forearm. The lower jaw of the baby should be held with fingers folded into a claw. Then, with the base of the palm, five blows of medium strength should be applied with the base of the palm to the area between the shoulder blades.

At the second stage of helping a child with foreign bodies - turn the child face up on the right forearm. Then you should apply five jerky movements along the sternum to a point that is located 1 finger below the inter-nipple line. Be careful not to push too hard to avoid damaging the baby's ribs.

When Food Gets Down the Wrong Throat

Everyone has had to deal with this problem. You take a sip and realize that the food went down the wrong throat. Then a cough begins, sometimes panic, but, as a rule, everything stops within a few seconds. This is because coughing is the body's natural defense against foreign bodies entering the trachea. Thanks to coughing, our body manages to get rid of “lost” pieces of food or other foreign particles that have accidentally entered the trachea.

But when the amount of food or its size is significant, suffocation can occur because the food or other object completely blocks the airways and air cannot pass through them into the lungs. In this case, a person can no longer get rid of a foreign body with a cough, stops breathing, talking, or even making some sounds. Usually, once in such a situation, the victim grabs his throat and / or begins to wave his arms. If the windpipe remains blocked for a long time, the person's face changes color from bright red to blue.

Our body needs oxygen to maintain life processes. When oxygen does not enter the lungs and brain for some time, a person may lose consciousness, and due to a prolonged lack of oxygen, irreversible changes occur in the brain, as a result of which a person may die.

What to do if someone is choking?

Respiratory arrest is a life-threatening condition. If you are trained in the Heimlich method, help immediately. If there is someone present who has the skill, give him the opportunity to help the victim. If the reception is performed incorrectly, you can harm the person and cause him pain. If the victim has stopped breathing and lost consciousness, the Heimlich maneuver should be performed simultaneously with (CPR).

Simple Precautions

  • Be especially careful when eating certain foods that are easy to choke on. These are: nuts, grapes, raw carrots, popcorn, and hard or gummy candies.
  • Try to eat while sitting, bite off food in small pieces, chew slowly. Don't try to speak with your mouth full. Remember, it's not even about good manners, it's about preventing choking.
  • Watch out for small children. Babies love to put things in their mouths and taste things. Try to protect the child and make sure that small objects are out of reach for your baby.
  • Learn the Heimlich maneuver. You can learn about it in first aid classes. For any person it will not be superfluous to own this skill. Who knows? Perhaps it is you who will have to become a savior when one of your relatives or friends chokes!

The topic of this article does not belong to the category of seasonal. But it is very relevant for anyone who has small children. However, in adults, such troubles also happen. I mean the ingress of a foreign body into the respiratory tract.

Let's talk briefly about adults first. How can a foreign body get into the airways of an adult? After all, he does not drag everything into his mouth, like children. Of course it doesn't drag. But some adults have a habit of holding some small objects in their teeth while working. Remember, didn’t you have a case that you held pins or small cloves, screws in your mouth. By the way, I often do this myself. Foreign bodies such as dentures can be inhaled into an adult's respiratory tract during sleep or when the person is unconscious. And of course, do not forget that you can simply choke on food.

According to statistics, in 95-98% of cases, foreign bodies of the respiratory tract occur in children aged 1.5 to 3 years.

Children are little explorers. Everything is included in their field of study. And they want not only to see, hear and touch the environment, but to taste everything that their hands can reach. And these pens do not always reach only for toys. Often these are completely inappropriate items, for example, beads, buttons, beans or peas, nuts, and so on. Children try to apply small objects to everything and most often push them into the most inappropriate places. And such unsuitable places include the ears, nose and mouth. Some small object that the child has put in his mouth “jumps” into the larynx during a deep breath. The reason for such a breath can be fright, crying, screaming.

In addition, a child of this age is just learning to properly chew and swallow solid food. And, of course, he does not succeed immediately. Therefore, it is at this age that the danger of getting pieces of solid food into the respiratory tract is maximum.

It is also bad that the child cannot always tell what exactly happened to him. And sometimes foreign bodies in the airways are detected too late.

Now for some anatomy.

The structure of the respiratory tract in humans is as follows: when inhaling, air enters the nasal passages, then into the nasopharynx and oropharynx (here the respiratory system crosses with the digestive system). Then - the larynx. In the larynx, air passes through the vocal cords and then into the trachea. Here is the first feature: in the subglottic space in a child under 3-5 years old, lymphoid tissue is strongly expressed, which has a tendency to rapid swelling. This is what leads to the development of false croup in viral infections. And when foreign bodies get into this area, edema of the subglottic space also develops very quickly, narrowing the airways. At the level of 4-5 thoracic vertebrae, the trachea is divided into two main bronchi - the right and left, through which air goes to the right and left lungs, respectively. Here is the second feature: the right main bronchus is, as it were, a continuation of the trachea, departing to the side at an angle of only 25-30 degrees, while the left departs at an angle of 45-60 degrees. That is why most often foreign bodies of the respiratory tract fall into the generations of the right main bronchus. The right main bronchus is divided into three bronchi: upper, middle and lower lobe bronchus. The left main bronchus is divided into two bronchi: upper and lower lobe. Most often, foreign bodies are in the right lower lobe bronchus.

According to the mechanism of obstruction (opposition to normal operation) of the airways, foreign bodies differ in:

* non-obturating lumen. Air passes freely past the foreign body during inhalation and exhalation. * completely obturating lumen. Air does not pass at all. * obturating the lumen by the type of "valve". On inhalation, air passes by the foreign body into the lung, and on exhalation, the foreign body blocks the lumen, thereby preventing the exit of air from the lung.

Also, foreign bodies differ in the method of fixation.

A fixed foreign body sits firmly in the lumen of the bronchus and practically does not move during breathing.

A balloting foreign body is not fixed in the lumen and, when breathing, can move from one section of the respiratory system to another. Its movement can be heard with a phonendoscope in the form of "clapping" when breathing. Sometimes it can be heard even from a distance. In addition, a running foreign body is also dangerous because when it hits the vocal cords from below, a persistent laryngospasm occurs, which in itself leads to an almost complete closure of the laryngeal lumen.

Foreign bodies can enter any part of the respiratory tract. But in terms of localization, the most dangerous place is the larynx and trachea. Foreign bodies in this area can completely block the access of air. If you do not provide immediate assistance, then death occurs in 1-2 minutes.

For young children, the most dangerous situation is when a foreign body gets stuck between the folds of the glottis. In this case, the child cannot make a single sound. This is explained by the fact that a spasm of the glottis occurs, which can lead to respiratory arrest and suffocation. The child develops cyanosis (blue) of the mucous membranes and skin of the face.

The fact that an adult or a child is choking becomes clear by a sudden cough. At the same time, the person’s face turns red, tears appear in the eyes. And those around him readily knock on the back with a fist. More often, of course, the crumb that got "in the wrong throat" is removed with a cough. But if it's not a crumb, but, let's say, a piece of sausage, an apple, or a bone from a fruit? Then with each blow of the fist on the back, this piece will move further and further into the respiratory tract. Normal breathing in this case will change to stridor, that is, breathing with a characteristic wheeze on inspiration and with the participation of the muscles of the face, neck and chest. But not only does the piece block the access of air. It also irritates the mucous membrane of the larynx or trachea, and this, in turn, leads to their swelling and abundant secretion and accumulation of mucus. If a foreign body also has sharp edges, such as a stone from a plum, then it injures the mucous membrane and blood is added to the mucus. The condition of the victim is getting worse right before our eyes. The face, red at first, turns blue, the veins swell on the neck, a sip is heard on inhalation and the subclavian and supraclavicular fossae are seen to sink. Coughing movements become less and less frequent, and the movements are more and more sluggish. And very quickly a person loses consciousness. This condition is called blue asphyxia.

If the victim is not quickly assisted, then blue asphyxia in a few minutes will pass into the stage of pale asphyxia. The skin will become pale with a grayish tint, the reaction of the pupils to light and the pulse on the carotid artery will disappear. In other words, clinical death will occur.

How to provide first aid in such a situation?

First, you can not waste time examining the oral cavity. Secondly, do not try to get a foreign body with your fingers or tweezers. If this is a piece of food, sausage or an apple, for example, then under the influence of saliva it will soften so much that when you try to get it, it will simply fall apart into smaller pieces. And one or more of these small pieces, when inhaled, will again fall into the respiratory tract.

But, no matter what the victim chokes on, the first thing to do is turn him over on his stomach and throw him over the back of a chair, chair, if he is an adult, or over his own thigh, if he is a child. Then you need to hit him several times with an open palm on the back between the shoulder blades. It is impossible to strike with a fist or with the edge of the palm.

If a small child chokes on a ball or pea, you need to quickly turn him upside down and tap on his back several times at the level of the shoulder blades with an open palm. In this case, the "Pinocchio effect" will work. It will look the same as in the fairy tale about Pinocchio, when money was shaken out of him. If, after several blows with the palm of the hand, the foreign body does not fall to the floor, then another method should be used.

But if a child chokes on a coin-like object, for example, a button, then another method must be used, since the one described above will not justify itself in this case, since the “piggy bank effect” is triggered. If you had a piggy bank as a child, remember how you tried to shake coins out of it. There is enough noise and ringing, but the coins don’t want to fall out of the piggy bank, because they can’t stand on their own edge and roll flat on themselves. In the same way, a flat and coin-shaped foreign body blocks the airways. We must force him to change position. To do this, use the method of concussion of the chest. As a result of the concussion, the foreign body will either turn around its axis and open the passage for air, or move down the trachea and end up in one of the bronchi. This will give the victim the opportunity to breathe at least one lung.

There are several ways to concussion chest. The most common and effective of them is short, frequent blows with an open palm on the back in the interscapular region.

There is another way, which in Russia is called the "method of the American police." I must say right away that I do not know why it is called that. In America, this technique is called the Heimlich method. This method has two versions.

First option

It is necessary to stand behind the choking person, take him by the shoulders and move him away from himself on outstretched arms. Then, sharply with force, hit him with his back against his own chest. Such a blow can be repeated several times. This option has one drawback. The chest, on which the victim must be hit, should be flat, masculine.

Second option

When using this option, you must also stand behind the victim. But in this case, it is necessary to clasp it with your hands so that the hands folded into the lock are below the xiphoid process of the victim. Then, with a sharp movement, it is necessary to strongly press on the diaphragm and at the same time hit the victim on his chest.

Both of these methods can be used if the victim is conscious. But at the same time, one must be prepared for the fact that the victim will develop a state of clinical death. Therefore, immediately after the impact, you can not unclench your hands, so that in the event of a cardiac arrest, do not let the victim fall.

The same method in relation to young children should be performed as follows:

1. Put the baby on a hard surface on his back, tilt his head back, raise his chin; 2. Place two fingers of one hand on the child's upper abdomen, between the xiphoid process and the navel, and quickly push inward and upward. The movement must be strong enough to remove the foreign object; 3. If the first time is not enough, then take up to four times.

Help for older children

If blows to the back do not help, then put the child on your lap, placing one of your hands on his stomach. Squeeze this hand into a fist, resting with the inner side where the thumb is located in the middle of his abdomen, and with the other hand hold the child behind his back. Quickly press your fist on your stomach a little up and as deep as possible. The movement must be strong to push out the stuck object. Repeat pressing up to four times.

If the choking person has fallen into a coma, you must immediately turn him over on his right side and hit his back several times with his palm. But, unfortunately, as a rule, these actions do not bring success.

See you next time!

They were removed from the lungs under local anesthesia with the help of special tools. During the nut picking season, Kiev specialists perform this procedure weekly on two or three babies who accidentally inhaled the nucleoli

Relatives brought a basket of young nuts from the dacha, - says the mother of two-year-old Andryusha Svetlana. - I cleaned the nucleoli from the film. Andryusha from time to time ran up to me and asked: “Mom, give me!” Once again, putting a nut in his mouth, the son choked. I tapped him on the back, he cleared his throat and resumed his game. Who would have thought that at that moment the pieces got into his bronchial tubes?

The next day Andryusha went to kindergarten. Educators noticed that from time to time the baby coughs. But he had no other symptoms of a cold. And suddenly

As usual, I came for my son, and I was met by a worried teacher: “Andryusha suddenly had a fever, he has a severe cough and wheezing in his chest,” Svetlana continues. The doctors diagnosed him with left-sided pneumonia. But the x-ray did not confirm this diagnosis, although breathing in the left lung was practically not audible. For almost a month Andryusha was treated for pneumonia, but there was no improvement. Then we were sent for a special examination - bronchoscopy.

Before this procedure, the doctors asked Svetlana in detail about how her child fell ill. Among the usual questions about the temperature and nature of the cough was an unusual one: “Maybe Andryusha choked shortly before the illness?”

That's when I remembered the day when we ate nuts, - says Svetlana.

In the autumn, during the season of collecting nuts, small children come to our department two or three times a week, whose respiratory tract accidentally got nucleoli, - says Evgeny Simonets, surgeon at the Pediatric Thoracic Surgery Department of Kiev Clinical Hospital N 17. - On the x-ray, the pieces of the nut in the bronchi are not visible. That's why we ask parents if their child has choked or coughed while eating. Having clogged the lumen of the bronchus, pieces of walnut do not allow the lung to breathe in full, sputum collects there, which causes bronchitis or pneumonia. Only examination with a bronchoscope equipped with a miniature video camera helps to detect a foreign object in the bronchi. By the way, in addition to nuts, children inhale popcorn, pieces of straw, chewing gum, small parts of toys, coins. Our department even has a collection of retrieved items.

From fruits to small children it is better to make mashed potatoes

The doctors gave me pieces of the nut that were in my son's lungs - Oksana shows tiny fragments of the nucleolus. “I decided to keep them as a reminder of what happened. Now I don't let my son chew while playing. He knows what to eat while sitting quietly at the table.

We talked with Oksana on the eve of Andryusha's discharge from the hospital. When the nuts were removed from the child's lungs, the inflammatory process quickly stopped.

After bronchoscopy, the doctors prescribed a weekly course of treatment, Oksana continues. - Now I decided not to allow my son to eat his favorite nuts, chips, seeds, dryers. He, like other children, loves to chew them for a walk. In the hospital, I was also convinced that children should not buy chewing gum. They also often get into the bronchi. During our stay at the clinic, I saw kids who inhaled popcorn. There was even a case when black peppercorns were taken out of the lungs of a child!

It's hard to imagine that food can be so dangerous. But children under four years of age do not chew food well, and they have not yet developed a swallowing reflex.

Babies often swallow while inhaling, so pieces of food enter the respiratory tract along with air, explains Evgeny Simonets. - And this happens mainly during the game or when the child is distracted. So if he often chokes while eating, you need to grind large pieces of food. Over time, the child will learn to eat properly. By the way, more than once it happened that the kids inhaled pieces of badly chewed apples. Fruit can be mashed so that unexpected situations do not arise.

Before this trouble, Andryusha had already eaten unblended food, says Oksana. - But now I try to chop the potatoes in the soup as much as possible, cut the meat into small pieces, grind the rough fruits. So it’s easier for my son to eat, and I’m calmer.

If the child coughs while eating and his skin begins to turn blue, something may have entered the lungs.

Sometimes during the game, children take small parts into their mouths - so as not to lose them, - says Yevgeny Simonets. - But, having played too much, they forget about them and swallow them. Foreign objects do not necessarily enter the lungs. They also get stuck in the esophagus, which has natural constrictions. In our practice, there was a case when a screw got into the airways of a child. It was impossible to extract it with a bronchoscope - it wedged into the wall of the bronchus. I had to do a major operation - a thoracotomy.

Do fish bones have to be removed from the esophagus? - I ask Evgeny Nikolaevich.

Yes, we have such patients too. Fish bones are very dangerous. Once in the esophagus or respiratory tract, they, as a rule, pierce the walls of the organ with a point. And when breathing or swallowing, they gradually move out, injuring the tissues even more. There is a girl in our department who has been wandering around hospitals since June. The fish bone stuck in the airways, inflammation began. They treated both bronchitis and pneumonia. When the patient was referred to us, the fish bone had already resolved, but the mucus accumulated in the lungs could only be removed with a bronchoscope.

How dangerous is chewing gum in the lungs?

If chewing gum closes the gaps in the bronchi, the child may suffocate. Getting into the bronchi themselves, the gum becomes viscous, loose. It has to be taken out in several stages, piece by piece.

What symptoms indicate that a foreign object has entered the lungs of a child?

The baby is salivating profusely, it is difficult for him to swallow, he may refuse to eat, which means that there is, for example, a fish bone in the esophagus. If the child suddenly coughed or choked and his skin began to turn blue, perhaps something got into the lungs. In any case, you need to contact the experts. Then the treatment will take no more than a day.

It happens that a woman who is in a clinic with a baby does not tell her husband what caused the disease. Afraid of reproach: “I didn’t keep track of the child!”

Some men do not understand that this can happen to an adult, - says Evgeny Simonets. - The main thing is to know where to turn to get qualified help. And then there will be no complications, no health consequences.