Breathing problems in children may appear, among others, after swallowing a foreign body or being stung by a bee. What to do then? First of all, don't panic, just focus on helping. This is very important as breathing problems can be life-threatening. Check what is the first aid for breathing disorders in children.
Breathing problems in childrenis a serious condition that can endanger the lives of the youngest. What to do then? When your child develops a breathing problem such as rapid, slow or deep breathing, or when it is having difficulty "catching" it, it is important to find out what is causing it. Only thenfirst aidcan be given in the right way.
A child's breathing problems are most often caused by choking after swallowing a foreign body. Breathing difficulties in a child may also appear in the course of hyperventilation, sleep apnea, acute asthma attack and infectious diseases of the respiratory tract, which carry a risk of laryngeal edema. This life-threatening condition can also be the result of an allergy that can occur after a bee stings, eating certain foods (including peanuts), or taking certain medications (e.g. aspirin, penicillin).
What to do when a child has breathing difficulties? Choking
The most common cause ofbreathing difficulties in a childischokingas a result of ingesting a foreign body (e.g. chewing gum, parts of toys). Then you should:
- put the baby upside down on your forearm so that your hand is holding the baby's chin. The hand is designed to hold the head, which is heavy in babies;
- hit the child firmly with the wrist of the other hand 5 times between the shoulder blades - it should choke the object out;
- alternately hit the child between the shoulder blades and apply pressure to the chest until the item falls out
If these actions turn out to be ineffective, an ambulance should be called.
Breathing disorders in children - hyperventilation
A child who breathes very quickly and intensively, e.g. while playing, crying or laughingincreases the concentration of oxygen in the blood at the expense of carbon dioxide. On the other hand, proper breathing is maintained when the concentration of carbon dioxide in the blood increases. Unfortunately, young children (up to 3 years of age) are not able to control their breathing rate, so their brains take over this role. Then the baby's breathing stops for a moment so that the level of carbon dioxide increases - then it begins to breathe properly. Therefore, you do not need to give your baby first aid - just lay them down and wait for their breathing to normalize. To stimulate the respiratory system, you can blow your baby's mouth.
Child breathing difficulties - asthma attack
If your child is tired of a dry, bothersome, paroxysmal cough that indicates an asthma attack, place the child in a sitting position (this position will impede ventilation) and give bronchodilators until the ambulance arrives. If the child is choking, immediately perform the Heimlich maneuver (while standing behind the child, press hard on the abdomen just below the ribs).
Child's breathing problems - respiratory diseases
One of the respiratory diseases that cause breathing problems in children issubglottic laryngitis . The disease manifests itself as a characteristic dry, "barking" cough, which may be accompanied by laryngeal edema. In this situation, the best method of first aid is to take your baby to a cold room or balcony (if it's cold outside). In summer or spring, you can sit with your child next to the freezer to get some frosty air. The swelling of the glottis then decreases, which opens the airways. It is an emergency treatment, therefore, after alleviating symptoms, you should see a doctor as soon as possible. If these treatments do not help and your child has obvious breathing problems, call an ambulance.
Breathing problems in a child - allergic reactions
If breathing problems are the result of an allergy, give your child antiallergic medication. In the event of a bee sting, a conscious child can be given medicated lime dissolved in a small amount of water to drink, or an ice cube to suck, which will reduce itching and pain. Also in the case of allergic reactions involving laryngeal edema, it is a good idea to move your baby to a cool place.
ImportantBreathing problems can be life-threatening
Blockage of the respiratory tract in a child in the course of infectious diseases, as a result of ingestion of a foreign body or an allergic reaction is a life-threatening condition. A larger foreign body canclose the upper respiratory tract and cause asphyxiation. The same is true in the case of allergic reactions or infectious diseases of the respiratory tract, which are associated with laryngeal edema, which may lead to the closure of the throat and complete disconnection of the lungs from the air supply.
Worst of all, if the allergic reaction is related to anaphylactic shock. Then it is advisable to administer adrenaline by a doctor. If this fails, the life-saving procedure may be intubation or tracheotomy.
Breathing problems in children - what to do if the child loses consciousness and is not breathing?
If your child is unconscious and is not breathing, follow these directions:
1. Put your baby on a flat surface. With your hand on his forehead, bend his head back and lift your chin up. This will open the airways and check, for example, if a foreign body cannot be removed with a finger.
2. Inhale, wrap your lips around the baby's mouth and nose and inhale the intake of air. The breath should lift the child's chest and last about 1 - 1.5 seconds. Perform a cycle of 5 breaths.
3. If the baby is breathing but still unconscious, place him on his side and wait for the ambulance to arrive.
4. If the child is still not breathing, continue with first aid until the ambulance arrives.