What is a common symptom of foreign body aspiration?

Coughing and wheezing are common symptoms associated with foreign body aspiration due to the body's immediate response to the obstruction in the airway. When an object becomes lodged in the respiratory tract, it can provoke a strong cough reflex as the body attempts to expel the foreign material. This can also lead to wheezing, which is a result of narrowed air passages caused by inflammation or direct obstruction from the foreign body.

These symptoms are typically acute and can be quite pronounced, depending on the size and type of the object that was aspirated, as well as the location within the airway. In children, for example, foreign body aspiration is a more common concern, and the presentation may include stridor, which signifies upper airway obstruction.

Although shortness of breath can occur in response to aspiration, it is often a secondary symptom resulting from the obstruction and associated inflammation rather than the primary presenting complaint. Fever is typically not an immediate symptom of aspiration and is more commonly associated with infections. Chest pain is not a classic symptom of foreign body aspiration and is more likely related to other conditions affecting the lungs or pleura.