P24.3: Neonatal aspiration of milk and regurgitated food

Milk has got into the child’s airways or lungs.

You need lungs to breath. When you breathe in, the air with the oxygen passes through the airways to the lungs. The respiratory tract ends in the air sacs in the lungs. Oxygen passes into the blood in the pulmonary alveoli (air sacs). The pulmonary alveoli and the airways are surrounded by supportive tissue. This supportive tissue consists of connective tissue.

Milk can get into the airways and lungs when breastfeeding or bottle-feeding. Air can also collect in the stomach when breastfeeding or bottle-feeding. Burping prevents too much air collecting in the stomach. However, when burping, undigested milk can get into the airways and lungs. This can also happen if there are defects in the esophagus or stomach.

The child’s health problems depend on how much milk gets into its airways. Milk can block the airways.

If the child’s airways are blocked, the pulmonary alveoli may absorb less oxygen. This can cause breathlessness and accelerated breathing. The skin may also be blueish. As a result, a lung inflammation can develop. With a case of lung inflammation, various other health problems can occur. These include a sucking weakness. The child may also keep stopping breathing for a short time. The body temperature may be higher or lower than usual.