Swallowing or inhaling a foreign object

Table of Contents

Alternative Names

Obstructed airway; Blocked airway


Symptoms
  • Choking
  • Coughing
  • No breathing or breathing trouble (respiratory distress)
  • Wheezing

However, in some cases, only minor symptoms are seen at first, and the object may be forgotten until later symptoms (inflammation, infection) develop.



Review Date: 01/04/2011
Reviewed By: Jacob L. Heller, MD, MHA, Emergency Medicine, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, Washington. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)