Breathing Disorder
You probably understand how scary it is to be unable to catch your breath, and children understandably find this feeling highly distressing. Board-certified pediatric pulmonologist Sarat Susarla, MD specializes in breathing disorders and provides expert diagnosis and treatment of lung conditions in children at the Houston and Sugar Land, Texas, offices of Houston Specialty Clinic. If you think your child has a breathing disorder, call the location closest to you today.
What is a breathing disorder?
A breathing disorder is a condition that causes your child to have trouble breathing (respiratory distress). It means they’re having to work hard at drawing air into their lungs and could be unable to get enough oxygen.
Children often show symptoms like noisy breathing or difficulty with breathing if they have an upper respiratory infection like a cold. Colds and flu can lead to an infection that causes airways to produce large amounts of mucus or phlegm, which can make it hard to breathe.
In most cases, this type of breathing difficulty passes as your child recovers from the infection. Whether they have a cold or not, there are symptoms you should look out for so you know when your child needs medical attention.
What symptoms might a breathing disorder cause?
Premature babies have very delicate bodies, and their lungs are so fragile they can suffer injuries very easily. The air sacs in their lungs are particularly vulnerable. Injuries can occur because the baby doesn’t have enough surfactant in their lungs, which they need to keep the air sacs open.
High levels of oxygen could damage cells in the lungs. Air pressure from the use of an endotracheal (ET) tube in your baby’s windpipe, suctioning fluid from their airways, or the action of the ventilator can all cause chronic lung disease.
Chronic lung disease is more likely to affect your baby if they have a low birth weight (below two pounds) or are born before the 30th week of pregnancy.
What causes breathing disorders?
Conditions your child might have that typically cause breathing problems include:
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Anaphylaxis (severe allergic reaction)
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Asthma
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Bronchiolitis
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Croup
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Influenza
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Pneumonia
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Whooping cough
Children might experience breathing difficulties if they have a foreign object stuck in their airway, such as a small toy.
Exercise can often trigger a breathing disorder known as exercise-induced shortness of breath or exercise-induced asthma. Your child might quickly get short of breath when exercising or playing sports, a problem that worsens as they continue to exercise.
They might also wheeze or have a cough and say their chest feels tight. They won’t be able to perform as well, they feel excessively tired after exercise or playing sports, and they need a longer recovery time than before.
How are breathing disorders treated?
The treatment Dr. Susarla recommends for your child’s breathing disorder depends on the nature of their condition and its severity. First, he’ll want to conduct a physical exam and look at your child’s medical history and current symptoms.
Dr. Susarla might also need to run pulmonary function tests to check your child’s breathing and the oxygen levels in their blood. Once he makes a diagnosis, Dr. Susarla can recommend the most effective treatments, such as inhalers if your child has asthma.
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