Aspiration Pneumonia
When elderly individuals receive inadequate or improper care, it can lead to preventable complications and even death. Aspiration pneumonia is considered one of the leading causes of hospitalization and death in nursing homes across the state, according to the National Center on Biotechnology Information (NCBI), and is often caused by improper nursing home treatment.
What is Aspiration Pneumonia?
Aspiration pneumonia is an infection in the lungs that can be caused by inhaling foreign materials. This includes food or liquids, blood, and stomach contents like digestive juices or vomit. When something is caught in our lungs, we are typically able to cough it up and get rid of it. However, when food or liquids remain in the lungs, it allows bacteria to form and grow, leading to an infection known as aspiration pneumonia.
What are the Symptoms of Aspiration Pneumonia?
It is important that you are able to recognize the signs of aspiration pneumonia in a loved one, as an elderly individual may not be able to relay all of their symptoms to a medical professional. Some common symptoms of aspiration pneumonia are:
Shortness of breath or wheezing
Blue discoloration in the skin
Chest pain
Fatigue
Difficulty swallowing
Coughing (potentially with green sputum, blood, or a bad smell)
Bad breath
Excessive sweating
If your loved one has been exhibiting these symptoms, you should contact a doctor immediately. Aspiration pneumonia can be life-threatening without prompt and proper treatment.
What are the Causes of Aspiration Pneumonia?
Elderly individuals are extremely susceptible to aspiration pneumonia. Some of the causes of aspiration pneumonia are due to the effects of old age and are not caused by an outside individual or group. However, in many circumstances, aspiration pneumonia — or the poor treatment of it — can be shown to be the fault of a care provider.
Causes of aspiration pneumonia include:
Poor care/hygiene
Weak immune system
Poor feeding tube care or ventilator care
Weak throat muscles caused by medical diseases such as Alzheimer’s
Inability to swallow or chew food
Pill fragments caught in the throat
Protect Your Loved Ones After Poor Treatment
In general, aspiration pneumonia is not just a natural consequence from the aging process. It can be prevented. When it occurs as a result of improper care or negligence, legal recourse is available.
Investigation of Aspiration Pneumonia
Smith Clinesmith has a team of dedicated lawyers ready to take on your nursing home or medical neglect case. We begin every aspiration pneumonia case by leveraging our network of experienced professionals to verify that you have a solid case for nursing home neglect litigation. These professionals include medical experts, forensic analysts, investigators, and more. We investigate the cause of your loved one’s illness or death and determine if the situation was preventable. If we find that the illness or death was in fact due to neglect or improper care, we aggressively represent you throughout the following legal proceedings.
Aspiration Pneumonia Attorneys Serving Clients Nationwide
We take every claim very seriously and have the best experts in the fields of medicine and investigation work with us to help prepare your case. If you believe your elderly loved one did not receive proper treatment for aspiration pneumonia while living in a nursing home or assisted living facility, reach out to our team to learn how we can help. We offer free case evaluations over the phone or in person with complete confidentiality. We maintain offices in Dallas, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Atlanta, and Chicago, and we proudly represent clients nationwide.