Asthma is an extremely distressing condition in itself. It is an allergic reaction of the airways to allergens – pollen, cold air, or even stress. The airways start narrowing and the child has difficulty breathing. Asthma in babies is difficult to spot if you do not know what to look for.
An older child is able to express his distress in words, or by that time, the parents know how an asthma attack looks like. However, how does asthma in babies look like? How to spot asthma in newborns? Let’s find out.
A video of asthma in infants
Sophie Cachia, a mum and an entrepreneur uploaded a video of her baby on Instagram.
A post shared by Sophie Cachia (@sophiecachia_) on Oct 16, 2017 at 9:07pm PDT
Florence, her little baby, suffered from an asthma attack and was taken to the hospital. After treating her, the doctors sent her back with instructions to bring her in if the parents were not sure. And the next day, Florence had a similar attack. The parents had some experience with this as their elder child also suffers from Asthma. The mum captured the video in case she needed to show it to the doctors.
They took her just in time as she was given immediate treatment. And just so that other parent should not miss these signs, Sophie shared the video on Instagram.
The signs of asthma in a newborn
Image source: iStock
When one breathes normally, the deeper chest muscles and diaphragm help in expanding and contracting the rib cage, and this, in turn, expands the lungs, causing breathing. When a person is having difficulty breathing, the accessory muscles of respiration – the muscles of the neck, the abdomen, the superficial muscles of the chest and back get involved. And this is what causes the particular breathing pattern in children.
So, if you are unsure about asthma in newborn, here are the signs to watch out for
- The baby is distressed or crying
- Muscles of the neck are moving with each breath. You can also see a deep pit just below the chin that develops every time the baby breathes
- The tummy moves more than the chest, however, this is a sign that may be misinterpreted.
- the space between the ribs may go in with each breath.
In addition, watch out for a whistle-like sound ever time the child exhales. This might be an indicator of an asthma attack.
What to do for asthma in babies
Asthma needs treatment, and so, never ignore the signs and symptoms. Be particularly observant if you, your spouse, or the child’s sibling has asthma or even any of allergies. This increases the risk of your baby having the condition. Luckily, with treatment, your child can have a near-normal childhood and is able to do almost all the activities as other children. So, if you think your child shows these conditions, show it to a doctor immediately.
(Images: Screengrab, Instagram)
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