Not all wheeze is asthma: A case of central airway foreign body mimicking asthma

Abstract

Foreign body aspirations are more commonly seen in the paediatric age as compared to adults. This is more widely seen in the older population due to the impairment of protective airway mechanisms or the absence of the swallowing reflex, for instance, in neurological diseases, head trauma, alcohol intoxication, sedation, or complications from dental manipulation. We report the case of a betel nut causing airway obstruction in an elderly lady, which was treated multiple times as respiratory tract infection and asthma. Subsequently, a bronchoscopy was performed. Following which, the betel nut was removed causing resolution of symptoms.