Care Advice
- What You Should Know About Trouble Breathing:
- Children with trouble breathing need to be seen now.
- The causes of trouble breathing are often serious.
- In young children, trouble breathing can get worse quickly.
- Many of these children need oxygen.
- Sometimes, you might not be sure if your child is having trouble breathing. If you are worried, call your child's doctor now.
- Here is some care advice that may help until you talk with your doctor.
- Coughing Fits or Spells:
- Breathe warm mist (such as with shower running in a closed bathroom).
- Reason: Relax the airway and loosen up any phlegm.
- Nasal Saline To Open a Blocked Nose:
- Your baby can't breastfeed or drink from a bottle if the nose is blocked. Suction alone can't remove dry or sticky mucus.
- Use saline (salt water) nose drops or spray to loosen up the dried mucus. If you don't have saline, you can use a few drops of bottled water or clean tap water. If less than 1 year old, use bottled water or boiled tap water that has cooled.
- Step 1: Put 3 drops in each nostril. If age less than 1 year old, use 1 drop.
- Step 2: Suction each nostril out while closing off the other nostril. Then, do the other side.
- Step 3: Repeat nose drops and suctioning until the discharge is clear.
- How often: Do saline nose drops when your child can't breathe through the nose. Limit: No more than 4 times per day.
- Saline nose drops or spray can be bought in any drugstore. No prescription is needed.
- Avoid Tobacco Smoke:
- Tobacco smoke makes coughing and trouble breathing much worse.
- Go to the ER Now If:
- You have not heard back from a doctor or nurse within 30 minutes after placing your call
- Ribs start pulling in with each breath (retractions)
- Wheezing becomes loud or tight
- Trouble breathing gets worse
And remember, contact your doctor if your child develops any of the 'Call Your Doctor' symptoms.