What is a common outcome of aspiration in infants with tracheo-esophageal fistula?

A common outcome of aspiration in infants with tracheo-esophageal fistula is pneumonia. This condition involves an abnormal connection between the trachea and esophagus, which can lead to food, liquid, or saliva entering the lungs rather than being properly digested. When aspiration occurs, these materials can introduce bacteria into the lungs, resulting in aspiration pneumonia.

Infants with this condition are often at heightened risk for respiratory complications because their ability to swallow and manage secretions may be compromised. The presence of foreign substances in the lungs triggers an inflammatory response, leading to pneumonia, characterized by coughing, difficulty breathing, and fever.

The other choices, although significant in other contexts, are less directly linked to the immediate consequences of aspiration in the case of tracheo-esophageal fistula. Reflux, while it may occur, is more associated with feeding issues rather than aspiration directly leading to pneumonia. Constipation and dehydration do not generally relate to the acute respiratory outcomes from aspiration.