Silent aspiration in newborns is when formula, milk or saliva accidentally enters the newborns airway, which is the windpipe and lungs without triggering the usual coughing or choking reflex.
Silent aspiration in newborns can occur due to immature swallowing control or underlying neurological issues, which also poses a risk for infections like pneumonia.
Thee silent aspiration is identified by subtle signs like wet sounding breathing after being fed, fever or frequent respiratory issues, which require specialized feeding assessments.
The reason silent aspiration in newborns happens is due immature swallowing, neurological conditions, anatomical issues and intubation effects.
Newborns have developing swallowing mechanisms, and the epiglottis, which is the flap that protects the airway may not close perfectly and let liquids slip in.
Conditions like seizures, cerebral palsy or genetic syndromes can also affect the coordination that the newborn needs for safe swallowing.
Structural problems like laryngeal cleft which is a gap in the voice box or laryngomalacia which is floppy airway tissue can increase risk of silent aspiration in newborns.
And prolonged use of breathing tubes in newborns can also decrease sensation in the newborns throat and lead to reduced awareness of aspiration.
Because there's no cough with silent aspiration in newborns, parents and doctors will look for indirect cues which can signify the silent aspiration in the newborn which include.
Fast or labored breathing during or after feeding.
A wet sounding voice or cry after eating.
Refusing to breastfeed or take the bottle.
Frequent low grade fevers or unexplained respiratory infections like bronchitis or pneumonia.
And gurgling sounds in the throat or chest.
To evaluate a newborn for silent aspiration, a doctor might order a modified barium swallow study or Videofluroscopic Study to visualize the newborns swallowing.
Management and treatment of silent aspiration in newborns involves changing feeding positions, thickening of liquids or modifying bottle nipples to slow the flow.
And addressing the root neurological or anatomical issue for silent respiration is also crucial.
Silent respiration in newborns can be dangerous as it allows substances to sit in the newborns lungs, which can lead to infection, but early detection through careful observation and specialized testing can also help manage the risks effectively.