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

it will. usually, the food doesn’t go deep enough to cause an issue and is usually being choked out the windpipe relatively quickly to cause a huge problem.

if it somehow does get into your lungs, you are at a serious risk of an infection and should seek medical help immediately. the doctors will get the food out of your lungs.