Mild difficulty breathing in a child with respiratory problems

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Mild difficulty breathing in a child with respiratory problems

A child who is having mild difficulty breathing may:

• Breathe slightly faster than normal.
• Use the abdominal muscles to assist breathing.
• Have normal skin color on the face, hands, and feet.

Upper respiratory system infections, such as colds and flu, usually cause only mild difficulty breathing, such as a stuffy nose. Small children with stuffy noses learn to breathe through their mouths. Babies have not gained the ability to breathe through their mouths and so have more difficulty breathing when their noses are stuffy. Usually, mild difficulty breathing can be treated at home by humidifying the air and using saline nose drops. Occasionally suctioning the nose using an aspirating bulb to remove excess mucus will help.

Children with moderate to severe difficulty breathing need to be seen by a health professional immediately. Children can become severely ill very quickly, so difficulty breathing needs to be monitored closely for any changes. Call 911 or other emergency services immediately if signs of moderate to severe difficulty breathing are present.

Credits

Last updated:	February 25, 2008
Author:	Jan Nissl, RN, BS
Reviewed By:	Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics, Thomas Emmett Francoeur, MDCM, CSPQ, FRCPC - Pediatrics
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer