Near-fatal Food Aspiration in a Young Child With Down Syndrome

The authors aim to highlight the multifactorial risks of food aspiration in children with Down syndrome (DS) through a case study of a 4-year-old boy who experienced near-fatal choking on a piece of fried chicken. The case illustrates the child's anatomical, functional, and behavioral vulnerabilities, emphasizing the importance of proactive feeding assessments and individualized preventive strategies to mitigate aspiration risks in this population. The findings advocate for caregiver education and early behavioral assessments to reduce aspiration-related complications in children with DS.