Aspiration pneumonia
One of the most potentially serious complications of corticobasal degeneration (CBD) is aspiration pneumonia.
Aspiration pneumonia is a lung infection that is triggered when a small piece of food enters the lungs.
People with CBD are particularly vulnerable to aspiration pneumonia because their impaired swallowing reflexes mean that their larynx (voice box) does not close during swallowing, so their lungs are not protected.
The symptoms of aspiration pneumonia include:
- high temperature (fever) of or above 38ºC
- fatigue,
- chest pain,
- shortness of breath,
- blue skin (cyanosis), due to a lack of oxygen, and
- wheezing.
You may also have a cough that sometimes produces foul-smelling phlegm and may contain traces of blood and pus.
Contact your care team immediately if you are being treated for CBD and you develop these symptoms. If this is not possible, contact your local out-of-hours service, or call NHS Direct on 0845 4647.
The symptoms of aspiration pneumonia can range from mild to severe. Severe cases will require admission to hospital and treatment with intravenous antibiotics.
In particularly vulnerable or frail people there is a chance that the infection could lead to their lungs becoming filled with fluid, preventing them from working properly. This is known as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).
Unfortunately, as most people with advanced CBD are vulnerable and frail, repeated episodes of aspiration pneumonia often result in ARDS and then death.
