When people aspirate very small amounts of food and drink and it enters the lungs, what happens to that food/liquid? Does it go away or just build up?

Question

I’m asking specifically about when you have just a little bit of food matter or liquid “go down the wrong pipe” and it doesn’t make you choke or have to get it removed. Does something happen to it after it enters the lungs?

In: Biology

Answer 1

I don’t know but my father had surgery. They thought lung cancer. Turned out to be pigeon poop, so there’s that.

He was really scared. True story. I guess poop doesn’t break down that fast.