Suggest Treatment For Stuck Pill Inside Throat

Posted on Thu, 27 Aug 2015

Question: hello doctor today (monday) at 10am i may or may not have inhaled a tiny viramin d pill that go stuck in the back of my throat. when it did get stuck i stopped myself from breathing and swallowed until it was gone. i and fearfull that it may have gone down my trachea. I saw my dr at 1pm and he listened to my lungs said everything sounded strong and normal and i did not need to worry about it. he did say that a small vitamin d tablet poses little to no threat even if it went down the trachea since its only vitamin d. what do you say and should i be concerned? i am breathing normal with no pain. what should i be looking for and how long before i am in the clear?

Answered by Dr. Vivek Chail (53 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
If you never had cough at that time then the pill did not enter the trachea

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for writing in to us.

I have read through your query in detail.
Please find my observations below.

1. A tiny vitamin D tablet might have gone down the right passage down the esophagus if you did not experience any cough when it got stuck.

2. The cough reflex is a protective mechanism in humans which tries to throw out any undesired object which might have accidentally entered the airway. I would like to know if you ever had any violent cough during or after trying to swallow the tablet. If no, then it is unlikely to go in to the airway.

3. A pill might occasionally cause a scratch on the posterior wall of the throat leading to a foreign body sensation which might be felt for a few days.

In conclusion, if you never had any cough at that time then there is no concern about the pill entering the airway.

Hope this answers your question. Please feel free to correct any oversight in my interpretation of your problems and discuss them in detail as per your requirements.

Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.

Regards,
Dr.Vivek

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Vivek Chail (16 minutes later)

hi Dr. XXXXXXX thank you for answering my question. just to follow up i did not have a violent cough at the time of taking the pill. if by some chance it did go down the trachea how long would it take for symptoms to occur? after how much time with no symptoms would it be safe to say i am in the clear?

thanks XXXXXXX

Answered by Dr. Vivek Chail (9 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Symptoms usually are seen within a week

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXX,
Thanks for writing back with an update.

1. If you never had a violent cough then it is 95 - 99 percent sure that the pill did not enter the trachea.

2. However in the rare possibility of the pill having entered the trachea and reached the lung then you should be having symptoms within a week.

3. Should you have any chest discomfort or cough over next week or two weeks, then a chest X ray might be suggested if recommended after a clinical examination. This is only if there is a strong clinical suspicion of lower respiratory tract infection from the pill entering the trachea.

Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.

Regards,
Dr.Vivek

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Vivek Chail (4 minutes later)

Thank you for your kind attention to my issue

Answered by Dr. Vivek Chail (3 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Welcome

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXX,
Welcome and thanks for sending in your query.

Should you have any more health queries and would like me to answer them then please mention "Query Id 212660 DR XXXXXXX CHAIL" in your query and the moderators will direct it to me. I will reply back to you at the earliest.

Regards,
Dr XXXXXXX

Note: Consult an experienced Otolaryngologist / ENT Specialist online for further follow up on ear, nose, and throat issues - Book a Call now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar