Respiratory Difficulties in Children
Author: Dana Fenton
The arrival of cold and flu season fills every parent with dread and fear, especially when the average child experiences between 8 and 10 colds each year. How is a parent to know if a simple cold and runny nose is not indicative of something more serious?
There is a big difference between a child simply being congested from thick nasal secretions and not being able to move air in and out of the lungs, and knowing how to distinguish between the two situations can mean the difference between life and death.
Because the airways of a child are much smaller than that of an adult, a child who experiences significant breathing difficulty needs immediate medical intervention. Children can develop breathing difficulties from a number of underlying causes, including, but not limited to the following:
- Allergies
- Asthma
- Botulism
- Bronchiolitis
- Bronchitis
- Cytomegalovirus (CMV), one of the human forms of the herpes virus
- Concussion
- Croup
- Cystic Fibrosis
- Cough
- Diphtheria
- Encephalitis
- Enlarged tonsils or adenoids
- Food allergies
- Foreign bodies being swallowed
- Heat stroke
- HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)
- Measles
- Meconium aspiration
- Mononucleosis
- Near-drowning
- Peanut allergy
- Pertussis
- Pneumonia
- Poisoning
- Polio
- Reflux
- Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
- Sepsis (blood poisoning)
- Sickle cell anemia
- Shock
- Sleep apnea
- Trauma
- Tuberculosis
- Wheezing
- Rett Syndrome (a rare neurodevelopmental disorder)
When a child experiences breathing difficulties, they tend to develop outward signs that can be easily observed. If any of the following signs are observed in a small child, it is imperative to seek immediate medical attention:
- Rapid breathing (particularly if more than 60 breaths per minute)
- Labored breathing or having to work hard to move air
- Nostril flaring
- Chest retractions (using extra muscles, the stomach and ribs appear to be "sucked" in during inhalation, which signifies reduced pressure in the chest cavity)
- Grunting sounds (due to the vocal cords closing at the end of expiration of air)
- Cyanosis of the skin (skin takes on a bluish or gray tint)
- Change in mental alertness or speech pattern (this is due to significant oxygen deficiency)
As respiratory distress becomes more apparent, most children will breathe more rapidly. Then, as respiratory distress progresses, breathing will become unusually slow or shallow.
How is Respiratory Distress Diagnosed?
Respiratory distress is first diagnosed by a physician doing a physical examination and patient history. A pulsoximeter can be used to give the physician an idea of the child's oxygen status; however, this is only used to gain an estimation of breathing capacity. Because respiratory distress is such a serious condition, treatment is often started prior to a further diagnosis being pinpointed.
Treating Breathing Difficulties in Children
Breathing difficulties require immediate respiratory support. Treatment could include administering oxygen, medications, and physical assistance with breathing. Depending upon the severity of the case, further medical intervention and treatment may be necessary.
Can Respiratory Distress in Children be Prevented?
Treating the underlying conditions before they progress is one of the most important ways to prevent respiratory distress in children. In conditions such as asthma and allergies, having a preventative treatment strategy is imperative. Other causes of respiratory distress can be avoided through childhood immunizations or other methods.
If a child experiences an emergency situation involving breathing difficulties, when in doubt, the best thing to do is call the paramedics. Breathing difficulties can signal a condition that requires immediate medical attention and a lapse in time of treatment could result in a life-threatening situation.
