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What Causes Severe Cough After Accidental Aspiration Of Pill Into The Lungs?

Posted on Fri, 10 Jun 2016

Question: I swallowed a pill and it went down the wrong tube. I can breathe but when i breath in there is a deep wheeze and causes me to cough. At times i cough and the taste and burn of the pill comes up in tiny pieces. I took a puff of an inhaler and it seems easier to breathe but i know the pill is still in the wrong pipe.

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (31 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Better to consult pulmonologist and get done bronchoscopy.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Your all symptoms are suggestive of aspiration of foreign body (pill).. The only way to confirm this is by doing bronchoscopy.
It is not only diagnostic but therapeutic also.
We can take out the foreign body with the help of bronchoscope if foreign body is there.
So better to consult pulmonologist and get done bronchoscopy.
Please let me know
1.Is it capsule or tablet?
2. What is the name of the pill?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

Note: For further follow-up it is advisable to consult an emergency medicine specialist. Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D