Eli5: how come when we get food down the wrong pipe we don’t die of a lung infection?

Question

How come when food goes in the lungs and we choke, the food doesn’t eventually rot in the lungs? How do we get it out or does it decompose

In: Biology

Answer 1

You have an immune system that kills bacteria, fungus, and viruses (collectively called pathogens). If your immune system is working well it will kill these pathogens before they do much of any damage to you.

If your immune system isn’t working correctly, or the pathogens are good at beating your immune system, then you get sick and possibly die.