I Think A Piece Of Chickpea Went Into Windpipe Instead

Posted on Mon, 5 Aug 2019

Question: I think a piece of chickpea went into windpipe instead of food pipe. Should I be concerned or need to do something about it? I was eating a curry which was quite oily and chickpea was quite slippery. One accidently slipped at the back of the throat and I felt a chickpea sliding at the back of the throat. I tried to swallow it but not sure if I did or it went into windpipe. There was no coughing or anything. I tried to artificially cough multiple times but nothing came out.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Jolanda (32 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Please do a.chest X ray

Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome in Ask the doctor

Yes I can understand your concern

Almost in all cases when the food pasess in airways it happen a harsh cough as a defence mechanism of the organism to exhale the foreign body.

In your case you explain there was no cough. Nevertheless there might be some cases that reported no cough.

However if you don't feel no breathlessness than its not an emergency now. In the future if you do repeated infection of the airways and especially recurrent pneumoia this is a sign of the foreign body.

So now I recommend you to do only a chest X ray.If the foreign body is evident than a bronchoscopy procedure is needed to take it or.However do not worry so much this is not an emergency as you explain the situation but try keep the situation in control as I explained above

Hope to have been helpful

Regards

Dr.Jolanda

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana