[An aphasic man with high fever; difficulty with diagnostic procedure]

Area of Science:

• Medicine
• Critical Care Medicine
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Aspiration of foreign bodies, particularly dental prosthetics, can lead to severe complications.
• Motor aphasia presents significant challenges in obtaining accurate medical histories.
• Nursing home residents may have an increased risk of denture colonization with pathogens.

Observation:

• A 73-year-old male with motor aphasia presented with fever, dyspnea, and vomiting.
• Sepsis secondary to a neck phlegmon caused by an aspirated denture fragment was diagnosed after several days.
• Initial diagnostic efforts were complicated by the patient's inability to communicate and the non-visualized foreign body.

Findings:

• Delayed diagnosis of sepsis due to impaired communication and difficulty in localizing the aspirated denture.
• The case highlights the potential severity of infections originating from aspirated foreign bodies in patients with communication deficits.
• Pathogenic microorganism colonization of dentures may contribute to severe infectious outcomes.

Implications:

• Emphasizes the importance of considering foreign body aspiration in patients with communication impairments presenting with non-specific symptoms.
• Highlights the need for advanced imaging techniques when initial assessments fail to identify the cause of infection.
• Underscores the critical role of effective communication strategies and thorough patient evaluation in managing complex medical cases.