Type of Choking | Choking is a form of asphyxia caused by an obstruction within the air passages.
TYPE OF CHOKING
Accidental
Homicidal—A blow to the front of the neck may cause severe swelling of the mucosa of the airway due to edema and hemorrhage. Death may occur due to reflex vagal inhibition.
Pathological
- Intraluminal- excessive secretion, mucus plug, polyp, adenoma, adenocarcinoma, hemorrhage, mucosal inflammation (bee, wasp, insect bite), etc.
- Intramural- inflammation, tumor, edema, etc.
- Pressure from outside- lymphoma, tumor of other organs, bony lesion, etc.
ACCIDENTAL CHOKING
- Choking is due to objects becoming lodged in the throat and is frequently observed in specific vulnerable populations, including young children, older people, individuals with psychiatric conditions, and those with significant impairments in their ability to swallow or chew. These groups are particularly at risk because of factors such as underdeveloped swallowing reflexes in children, diminished cognitive function in psychiatric patients, and weakened musculature in the elderly or infirm, all of which can hinder the normal swallowing process and increase the likelihood of choking incidents.
- Choking commonly occurs during a meal when food is accidentally inhaled, wildly when the victim is laughing or crying.
- The vomited matter may be inhaled by a person under the influence of drink or an anesthetic, during the fit of epilepsy, or while in a state of insensibility from other causes.
- Infants usually regurgitate clotted milk after meals, which may fall into the larynx.
- Choking may occur due to inhalation of blood from facial injuries, such as a broken nose or dislodged teeth.
- Impaction of the solid bodies, such as a large bolus of food, a piece of meat, a fruit stone, an onion, a potato, a corn, a button, a rag, a rubber band, seeds, a live fish, mud, leaves, cotton, or
- A set of false teeth, extracted teeth in dentistry,
- Blood and cloth after an ENT operation, such as tonsillectomy, may cause asphyxia.
- Gauze packs inserted during the operation can be inhaled and may cause death.
- Children often place objects like marbles or coins in their mouths, which may be passed into the larynx or trachea during a sudden deep inspiration.
- Choking is due to regurgitation of food may occur during rape or violent sexual intercourse.
- In a head injury, brain irritation causes vomiting, which may be inhaled.
- Food aspiration following the suppression of the gag reflex by tranquilizing drugs is sometimes seen in lunatic asylums.