Contents:
- Medical Video: THE DOCTORS Explains The Major Types of Coughs
- Breath sounds not necessarily a sign of shortness of breath in infants
- Quickly go to a pediatrician or to the ER if your child experiences this
Medical Video: THE DOCTORS Explains The Major Types of Coughs
When breathing, the respiratory system will supply oxygen to the blood to be distributed to all parts of the body. That's why shortness of breath in infants cannot be underestimated. In some cases, this can be a sign that your child has certain diseases that need immediate treatment. However, there are also baby breathing problems that you don't need to worry too much about.
Breath sounds not necessarily a sign of shortness of breath in infants
For a newborn baby, it is normal if occasionally he makes a sound when breathing. This does not mean that your child is experiencing shortness of breath, so you don't need to worry. The baby's lungs and nose are still adapting to a new environment that is different from that in the womb.
The respiratory organs must get used to the dry environment and breathe air. Baby's breath sounds that look similar to breathlessness in this baby are likely to occur for several weeks and need not be bothered.
However, there is also a baby's breath that indicates that your child is having a certain disease. Here are some types of baby's breath sounds and their causes. With this, you can find out whether the breath sounds on your little one are dangerous or not.
- Wheezing (breath sounds like a soft whistle orcool). Baby's breath sounds like this caused by a small blockage in the breathing hole, it can be because the airways are narrowed. Whistling can also be a sign of wheezing, which is caused by a blockage in the lower airway to make a whistling sound when the baby exhales. Wheezing can be a common symptom asthma or lower respiratory tract infection. This can cause shortness of breath in infants.
- A high-pitched, high-pitched voice, aka stridor or laryngomalacia. This sound is usually heard when the baby breathes in. This baby's breath sounds due to the condition of the baby's airways that are narrower and softer. This is usually harmless and can disappear when your child is two years old.
- Hoarse when crying and coughing. The baby's breath sounds that one is caused by a blockage of mucus in the larynx. This can be croup symptoms, that is infection of the larynx, trachea, and bronchial tubes.
- Pneumonia. Little one's breath is fast and tight, usually caused by pneumonia which begins with the presence of fluid in the smallest airways or alveoli. Pneumonia make your baby's breath become wheezing and fast, coughing constantly, and excreting hoarseness when listened to with a stethoscope. The cause of shortness of breath in this baby you need to worry about
Quickly go to a pediatrician or to the ER if your child experiences this
As mentioned above, baby's breath sounds are normal. However, immediately contact a pediatrician or immediately go to the Emergency Unit if the breath sounds are accompanied by the following signs as reported by WebMD:
- Your child breathes more than 60 or 70 times in a minute.
- Your baby snorts constantly, the baby's nostrils widen, and difficulty in each breath. This means he is trying to open a blocked airway.
- The little one gave a high-pitched hoarse voice and a heavy cough.
- Retraction, when the muscles in the child's chest and neck appear to rise and fall greater than usual when the baby is breathing. The chest can look concave.
- His breath stopped for more than 10 seconds.
- Your little lips look bluish. This means that the blood in the body does not get enough oxygen from the lungs.
- No appetite.
- Looks sluggish.
- Have a fever.
If you are confused whether baby's breath sounds that are experienced by your child can cause shortness of breath in infants or not, it is recommended to immediately consult with a specialist to get the best treatment.
