A five-month-old girl in southern Brazil has died after possibly choking on milk at a nursery school.
Civilian police in Santa Cruz do Sul, about 90 miles west of the capital Porto Alegre, are investigating the incident, which happened around 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, local Gaz news outlet reported.
An ambulance arrived at the scene and tried unsuccessfully to resuscitate the child. She was then rushed to Santa Cruz Hospital where they tried to resuscitate the child again, after noticing signs of milk aspiration and cardiorespiratory arrest.
The photo shows the back of the ambulance. Emergency services were called after a child choked on milk at a kindergarten in Brazil. Joaquin Barbara/Getty
Despite attempts to save the child, he died in hospital, Gaz reported.
The case was registered at the emergency police station, and will be dealt with by the police station for the protection of children and youth. The names of the child and the kindergarten have not been released.
The cause of death will not be clear until the investigation is completed. The autopsy will be performed by the civilian police, Gaz reported.
Aspiration occurs when something accidentally enters the lungs or airways. This can happen with liquid, food, and any other material that is swallowed.
It can cause serious health problems. It’s more common in children, especially young and premature babies, who may have trouble swallowing, Stanford Medicine reports.
These swallowing difficulties are caused by dysphagia, which is when the muscles in the throat do not work properly. Fluids are the most common cause of aspiration in children.
Although aspiration can be prevented and treated, in severe cases it can lead to death.
Complications that occur, leading to fatalities, include lung damage, as well as dehydration, malnutrition, weight loss and subsequent increased risk of other illnesses, according to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
“Aspiration also increases the risk of pneumonia. It is a lung infection that causes fluid to build up in the lungs. Pneumonia should be treated with antibiotics. In some cases, it can cause death,” the center reports.
Parents and caregivers can prevent aspiration in babies by making sure they sit in an upright position while feeding. Babies younger than 6 months should generally not be placed in the prone position for at least an hour and a half after feeding, according to pediatric pulmonologist Dr. Peter N. Schochet on his website.
Parents and caregivers should generally avoid feeding their baby 90 minutes or less before bedtime.
Have a tip on a science story Newsweek should cover? Do you have questions about milk aspiration? Let us know via [email protected].
Categories: Trending
Source: newstars.edu.vn