children s health issues
Esophageal Atresia and Tracheoesophageal Fistula
Symptoms
A newborn with esophageal atresia coughs, chokes, and drools after attempting to swallow while feeding. A tracheoesophageal fistula is dangerous because it allows swallowed food and saliva to travel through the fistula to the lungs, leading to coughing, choking, difficulty breathing, and possibly Aspiration Pneumonia and Chemical Pneumonitis (due to inhaling food or saliva). Food or fluid in the lungs may impair oxygenation of blood, leading to a bluish discoloration of the skin ( 