Aspiration pneumonia is a lung infection. It happens when something gets into the lungs that doesn't belong there. Kids with aspiration pneumonia may have a fever, cough, chest pain, and trouble breathing.

Doctors treat aspiration pneumonia with antibiotics. Most kids start to feel better in a day or two after starting antibiotics, but the cough can continue for several weeks.

• Make sure your child takes all medicines as prescribed by the health care provider. 
• Your child should drink plenty of liquids.
• Let your child rest as much as needed.
• For fever, you can give acetaminophen (such as Tylenol®, Panadol®, or store a brand) or ibuprofen (such as Advil®, Motrin®, or store brand).
• Don't give cough or cold medicine to children younger than age 6. These medicines can make it harder to get mucus out of the throat when coughing and can cause serious side effects. Ask the health care provider before giving cough or cold medicines to children who are 6 years old and older.
• Go to all follow-up doctor visits.

Your child:

• has trouble taking the medicines
• isn't drinking liquids
• has signs of dehydration such as a dry mouth or less pee
• is having trouble breathing or is breathing fast
• seems to be getting worse or does not improve in a day or two
• gets a new or higher fever

Your child seems very sick, is struggling to breathe, or is not responding to you.

What causes aspiration pneumonia? The body normally keeps saliva (spit), mucus, food, liquid, vomit (throw up), and stomach acid out of the lungs. If any of these get into the lungs, they can cause an infection called aspiration pneumonia.

Who gets aspiration pneumonia? Aspiration pneumonia is more common in kids who have trouble swallowing or who aren't always able to cough to clear things out of their lungs. This includes kids who have feeding tubes; who are on breathing machines; or who have seizures, lung disease, or gastroesophageal reflux (when stomach acid goes up into the esophagus, or throat).