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What Causes Severe Cough And Runny Nose After Eating?
Question: My 86 year old father just failed a modified barium swallow; aspirating diluted barium to barium coated cookies. We believe this has been going on for years but he has NEVER had ANY lung problems, including pneumonia. He does have a cough and runny nose, especially after eating. He has also list 100 lbs. in a year without trying.
My question is...where are the aspirated food particles going? Are they sitting in his lung undigested?
My question is...where are the aspirated food particles going? Are they sitting in his lung undigested?
Brief Answer:
Possibility of aspiration pneumonia is more.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
By your history and description, possibility of aspiration pneumonia is more.
Failed barium test, weight loss, coughing etc is suggestive of aspiration more.
Aspiration in trachea and lungs is likely I'm your father's case. So there is high possibility that food particles are aspirated in trachea and lungs.
So better to get done chest x ray first to rule out aspiration pneumonia.
Please let me know
1. Is he have coughing everytime he is eating and drinking?
2. Has he ever undergone chest x ray?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wishing good health to your father. Thanks.
Possibility of aspiration pneumonia is more.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
By your history and description, possibility of aspiration pneumonia is more.
Failed barium test, weight loss, coughing etc is suggestive of aspiration more.
Aspiration in trachea and lungs is likely I'm your father's case. So there is high possibility that food particles are aspirated in trachea and lungs.
So better to get done chest x ray first to rule out aspiration pneumonia.
Please let me know
1. Is he have coughing everytime he is eating and drinking?
2. Has he ever undergone chest x ray?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wishing good health to your father. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
He coughs frequently but I cannot say it is more often during eating. He has had a few chest x-rays - one 2 weeks ago (when he went to ER with dehydration after colonoscopy) and they noticed nothing. I want to know where the food particles are? If they are inhaled, there is no way for them to leave the lungs or be digested. Are the particles absorbed into the lung tissue or does it "rot" in the lungs? He has NO symptoms of aspiration pneumonia. The only indicators that provoked the doctor to have the barium test was his weight loss, occasional coughing and runny nose.
Brief Answer:
If chest x ray is normal then no need to worry for food particles in lungs.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
No, food particles in lungs can not be absorbed or digested.
If at all present, they either coughed out or remain as it is to develop granuloma and pneumonia later on.
So if his chest x ray is clear, no need to worry for aspiration pneumonia and food particles in trachea or lungs.
In my opinion, he is not absorbing food from intestine. This is the reason why he is not gaining weight, rather loosing weight.
Please let me know
1. Is stool examination done?
2. What were the findings of colonoscopy?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wishing good health to your father. Thanks.
If chest x ray is normal then no need to worry for food particles in lungs.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
No, food particles in lungs can not be absorbed or digested.
If at all present, they either coughed out or remain as it is to develop granuloma and pneumonia later on.
So if his chest x ray is clear, no need to worry for aspiration pneumonia and food particles in trachea or lungs.
In my opinion, he is not absorbing food from intestine. This is the reason why he is not gaining weight, rather loosing weight.
Please let me know
1. Is stool examination done?
2. What were the findings of colonoscopy?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wishing good health to your father. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Colonoscopy was completely normal. He does have severe constipation that has improved with Linzess and occasional Miralax. Stool is fine. No parasites, occult or XXXXXXX blood. Would food particles show up on an x-ray? An MRI or CTscan?
Brief Answer:
Single food particle can not be seen on chest x ray.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Single food particle itself can not seen on chest x ray.
But due to food particle if there is pneumonia or granuloma formation then this will be seen on chest x ray as indirect evidence of food particle in lungs.
But no need to worry all these as his chest x ray is normal.
According to me, CT scan of abdomen with esophagus should be done in his case.
It should be done with oral contrast.
Please let me know
1. Has he ever undergone upper GI (gastrointestinal) scopy?
Please reply me answer of above asked question, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wishing good health to your father. Thanks.
Single food particle can not be seen on chest x ray.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Single food particle itself can not seen on chest x ray.
But due to food particle if there is pneumonia or granuloma formation then this will be seen on chest x ray as indirect evidence of food particle in lungs.
But no need to worry all these as his chest x ray is normal.
According to me, CT scan of abdomen with esophagus should be done in his case.
It should be done with oral contrast.
Please let me know
1. Has he ever undergone upper GI (gastrointestinal) scopy?
Please reply me answer of above asked question, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wishing good health to your father. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Probably a long time ago as he has a hx of GERD. But not recently. What do think of laryngeal separation surgery or laryngeal closure at the 3rd cord?
Brief Answer:
Better to get done CT esophagus, abdomen and upper GI scopy.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
In my opinion, you should first get done CT scan of esophagus and abdomen with oral contrast. Followed by upper GI scopy.
These XXXXXXX helpful info deciding cause.
About these surgeries (laryngeal), I want to know few more things.
1. Is he diagnosed case of laryngeal disease?
2. Is he having vocalist cord palsy?
3. Whoever suggested these surgeries?
4. Is he having smoking habit?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wishing good health to your father. Thanks.
Better to get done CT esophagus, abdomen and upper GI scopy.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
In my opinion, you should first get done CT scan of esophagus and abdomen with oral contrast. Followed by upper GI scopy.
These XXXXXXX helpful info deciding cause.
About these surgeries (laryngeal), I want to know few more things.
1. Is he diagnosed case of laryngeal disease?
2. Is he having vocalist cord palsy?
3. Whoever suggested these surgeries?
4. Is he having smoking habit?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wishing good health to your father. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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