Breathing problems in children - first aid

Breathing problems in children - first aid

Respiratory problems in infants and children are relatively common and usually not serious. However, sometimes can be very serious and requires emergency care.
CroupThis is a group of symptoms that occur in various respiratory diseases in infants and young children. Rarely can also be found in older children. Croup is usually produced by a viral or bacterial infection but can also be produced by an allergy. Symptoms are most often signal the beginning and end of spring.Most croup attacks begin night after the baby slept. Often, the child had a slight cold before the attack. Croup occurred during the day is usually worse at night.
What are the symptoms of croup?- Difficulty breathing, predominantly in inspiration (breath dyspnea)- A snorting during breathing (in medical terms: stridor)- Hoarseness- A short cough, a barking- Sometimes it can be a slight fever- Possible a bluish discoloration of the skin and lips when the attack is serious (cyanosis)- Agitation, anxiety.
What are the first steps to be taken?It is very important to remain calm during an attack of croup. Encourage your child so that his condition does not worsen anxiety. Do not put a spoon or other object into the victim's mouth in an attempt to help her breathe because maneuver may have consequences opposite, namely obstruction (occlusion) airway.To help your child breathe a vaporizer placed in his room. May you stay with the child in a dark bathroom filled with steam. To produce steam, hot water is enough to let you run the shower or put a large pot of hot water in the room, with the door closed.Do not put your child in the water! Let it sit in the steam room for 30 minutes. If the child is small, can be held in arms over the place where vapors accumulate.
Warning signs:- Worsening shortly after the baby was awake- High difficulty breathing- Horacaitul (stridorul) that occurs while the child breathe- Cyanosis (blue skin, lips)- Sudden onset of moderate or high fever- The child becomes restless or seems exhausted and helplessIf your child begins to choke, which indicate epiglottitis, consult a doctor immediately! Epiglottitis is a great medical emergency situation, the epiglottis becomes inflamed and increases in volume, partially seal the trachea. Emergency call an ambulance or go to the emergency room of the nearest hospital. Always keep the baby / child sitting position!
EpiglottisIt is, as I mentioned earlier, as a medical emergency requires infection, inflammation and swelling of the epiglottis, which partially block air access path. Commonly manifests in children 2 to 6 years. Symptoms may occur after the baby had sore throats and painful and after a little cold.Do not put a spoon or other object in the child's mouth to help him breathe because this maneuver can cause airway obstruction!
In any of the following symptoms, emergency care is needed:- The child has difficulty swallowing- The child is choking- The child is quiet, has a whispering voice or can not speak at all- Baby sitting with chin projected forward in an attempt to keep air free
What are the first steps to be taken in case of suspicion of epiglottitis?Call emergency rescue or take your child to the emergency room of the nearest hospital. On the way to the hospital, the child should be kept permanently in a sitting position.
Upper airway obstructionSometimes children may swallow objects or pieces of food (popcorn, peanuts etc.) and these can lodge in the upper respiratory tract, above or below the vocal cords. Object stuck at this level causes a change in the child's voice can be loud or strange mechanics.
What are the first steps in case of upper airway obstruction?- If such a piece of food or any object stuck in baby's throat and the child is able to cough and breathe deeply, he will resort to these maneuvers involuntarily to remove the object stuck- Watch your child carefully and stay calm so as not to scare him- Do not interfere in the child's effort to remove the foreign body- Do not insert fingers into the child's throat to try extracting the object, because of the risk of pushing deeper object- If not breathing, perform the Heimlich maneuver. Sit behind the child and put his fist with the thumb on his abdomen, slightly above the navel and below the rib and sternum. Grasp your fist with your hand and have the other four make quick thrust, up, by force. Do not press with your arms on the ribs! Use only fist into the abdomen. It may be necessary to repeat the maneuver six or even ten times. If despite attempts, the baby was not breathing, take him to the emergency room emergency the nearest hospital.- Always stay with your child, try to keep calm and encouraged him.
Warning signs:- Child breathes extremely difficult- The child is cyanotic ('s skin and lips purple)- The child begins to drown
If your baby or toddler hand on his neck like he wants to be free (involuntary movement signifying suffocation by blocking), initiated immediately Heimlich maneuver!In infants, the Heimlich maneuver is performed as follows:- Put your baby / child face down all too little than your forearm, head hanging. Support the head by setting firm chin.- Support your forearm on thigh and forcefully hit four times on the back of the child, between the shoulder blades with the heel of the hand free.- If you do not get any results, turn the child face up and push four times faster on his chest. To perform this maneuver, place two fingers on the finger width below an imaginary line between the two nipples. Push down and the baby's head. Must be considered as pushing intensity should be much lower than in adults.- If necessary, repeat the procedure ableme.
ColdThe child may have trouble breathing because of nasal secretions. It may be too young to know how to blow his nose, so no vacuum nose that release nose and thus breathing returns to normal. In any case, you need a consultant pediatrician to determine what treatment is appropriate for the child.
Whatever the reason, if your child stops breathing, immediately initiate breathing mouth to mouth!