What is a risk when oral barium sulphate powder is given?

• A. Diarrhea
• B. Aspiration pneumonia
• C. Stomach ulcers
• D. Hyperglycemia

Answer: (B)

When giving oral barium sulphate powder, the main risk is aspiration pneumonia. Barium powder is meant to stay in the gut to outline the digestive tract on X‑rays, but if some of the powder enters the airway during swallowing—especially in patients with swallowing difficulties, reduced consciousness, gag reflex impairment, or during vomiting—it can coat and irritate the lung tissue. The inert barium particles in the lungs trigger inflammation and can become a focus for infection, leading to pneumonia. The other options aren’t typical consequences of swallowing barium powder in this context (diarrhea, stomach ulcers, or hyperglycemia aren’t caused by inhaled barium), so the risk that best fits and explains the scenario is aspiration pneumonia.