Aspiration pneumonia is a type of pneumonia that occurs when food, liquid, or saliva is accidentally inhaled into the lungs. This can happen during swallowing or vomiting, or if a person has a weakened gag reflex. Aspiration pneumonia can be a serious condition, especially for people who are already sick or have weakened immune systems.
There are a number of things that can be done to avoid aspiration pneumonia, including: