Wheezing in Children

Wheezing in Children






Wheezing is characterized by whistling sound (medium or high pitched) released from nose and shortness of breath. The affected child will have difficulty in exhaling the breath and there may be tightening of chest muscles. For some children there may be wheezing sound during inhalation and is caused when the windpipe that takes air constricts or develops infection. Children having Asthma have wheezing commonly when he suffers from respiratory tract infection or Sinusitis problem.

Causes :

Wheezing or difficulty in breathing is caused when there is blockage in the path of the airways that carry oxygen to the lungs. Bronchioles are small tube like structure which takes the air into the lungs and it produces wheezing sound when there is any infection or inflammation. Wheezing can also occur due to the presence of any foreign particle in the airways. The presence of tumor obstructing the pathway can also cause wheezing in children.

Some other factors that cause wheezing are allergic reaction like asthma and anaphylaxis, Bronchitis or sinusitis, COPD, Emphysema, gastro esophageal reflexive disorder. Pneumonia, heart failure, sleep apnea, Lung Cancer and vocal cord dysfunction can also induce wheezing in children.

Symptoms :

Some of the common symptoms of wheezing are:

• Whistling sound is given out which is more intense when the person exhales the air

• Tightening of chest

• Coughing, shortness of breath and choking

• Coughing up Yellow Mucus and sometimes blood

• In severe cases, anaphylaxis may occur posing life threatening condition

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Treatment :

For asthma induced wheezing, your doctor may prescribe albuterol or levalbuterol for dilating the airways that has been constricted due to blockage or respiratory problems. Corticosteroid medicines like Asmanex, Alvesco, flovent or budesonide are given. Pills that contain fluticasone or budesonide are also administered. Antihistamine pills like Ioratadine, cetrizine or nasal spray containing fluticasone propionate are prescribed.

Wheezing in children due to acute bronchitis can be controlled by bronchodilator syrup that contains pirbuterol, albuterol or levalbuterol.

The child should be given complete rest. He may also be assisted with steam inhalation process for 3-4 times a day for relieving the congestion in the airways. Hot water bottle therapy is given for easing the symptoms. The child may be exposed to vapor of hot shower for getting immediate relief from wheezing.

In case of anaphylaxis, you can see signs like swollen face and shortness of breath along with wheezing. The child should be hospitalized immediately and given epinephrine injection.

First the doctor should identify the causative factor that has triggered wheezing and start giving treatment to control it.

Wheezing in Children – Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, Home Remedies

Wheezing in Children – Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, Home Remedies

Causes

Common reasons for wheezing can include:

Bronchiolitis
This is an infection which is normally caused by the RSV or ”respiratory syncytial virus” and causes mucus production as well as swelling in the breathing tubes in the lungs of young children. This is usually because these breathing tubes are so small in a child. In infants 2 to 12 months old RSV is the most probable to cause an infected as well as usually starts the indications of a Common Cold with a mild cough as well as runny nose. During the next couple of days this cough usually worsens and the child can develop wheezing, difficulty breathing and fever.

Asthma
Also known as “reactive airway disease”, asthma is a normal problem with children and infants. The common symptoms of this disease are wheezing, coughing, trouble breathing and this is triggered by tightness as well as inflammation in the breathing pathways of the lungs. This wheezing and coughing is usually worse after exercising, exposure to certain triggers such as smoke, cold air, or other irritants and especially at night.

Aspiration of foreign body
If the child ingests any object, for example a peanut, coin, etc and it becomes lodged in a breathing tube, it can cause wheezing as well as difficulty breathing. This is very common in toddlers who are one to four years of age. This kind of wheezing may be only on one side of the chest.
Gastroesophageal Reflux
Children with GERDs often having wheezing due to the contents of the stomach being aspirated in the lungs or as the esophagus itself gets more acid in it. The symptoms of wheezing and/or coughing usually are worse when the child lies down.

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Dysfunction of the vocal cord
Children with this problem have vocal cords which close improperly and lead to trouble breathing which is often confused with asthma .

Other problems which can cause chronic wheezing include anatomical anomalies, including the narrowing of the airways or abnormalities of the blood vessel, such as a vascular or web ring as well as Cystic Fibrosis.

Treatment

If the symptoms look like those of acute Bronchitis, below are treatments that can be applied.

• Rest


• Pain killers


• Fluids


• Paracetamol


• Heating pad


• Steam inhalation


• Hot water bottle


• Physiotherapy


• Antibiotics


• Stop dairy products as they increase sputum


• Avoid hot water or very cold water


• Fresh air

Home Remedies

Here are several home remedy methods that can help with wheezing in children:

• Pepper, gooseberry and dry ginger mixed in equal parts. Mix this powder with butter or honey making a paste. Apply to the chest area before going to bed.


• Camphor and asafetida mixed in equal parts. Make into small tablets and take with hot water 3-4 times a day


• Mix a pinch of camphor, ½ spoon of asafetida and ¼ glass of sesame oil. Apply it on the chest 2 times a day for quick relief. This home remedy reduces symptoms such as tiredness and chest pain as well as wheezing.


• Soak a small piece of garlic in hot water and sip on it during the day


• Turmeric power is roasted and then given 2 spoons daily with hot water.


• Consume a spoon of jiggery with mustard oil for wheezing – this is considered one of the best home remedies.


• Honey, turmeric as well as pepper is mixed in equal quantity – apply on the chest for relief

These home remedies for wheezing in children can work wonders and give relief quickly. If the child is prone to this problem, it is best to seek the advice of your primary care physician.