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.
Wheezing in Children 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.
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
Pictures, Images, Pics and Photos of Wheezing in Children :
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.