The Causes of Wheezing on Babies and How to Overcome It
When a baby has respiratory disease, the baby's small airways are filled with mucus. Things like this are much more often experienced by babies than older children (toddlers) or adults. Mucus that fills the airways can cause wheezing or in everyday terms is called wheezing, also known as noisy breathing in health terms. Wheezing or whining will be heard clearly when the baby exhales and has a continuous intensity, says Don Hayes Jr., a pulmonologist at Children's Kentucky Children's Hospital in Lexington.
But keep in mind that wheezing is a symptom, not a diagnosis or disease. Well, thus if the baby experiences wheezing, then the baby can have another disease. Here are some diseases that appear with symptoms of wheezing or wheezing:
BRONCHIOLITIS
This disease is caused by a viral infection, the most common being respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). The airways of small-sized babies called bronchioles will swell and make the baby difficult to breathe, and more fatal can be life-threatening if not treated immediately.
Symptoms: Wheezing, rapid breathing, coughing and fever above 38 ° C
Treatment: eat well and sleep regularly. In more severe cases, the baby may need to be hospitalized and get treatment in the oxygen room.
REGULAR FLU
In the first two years the baby's immune system is still very vulnerable. In fact, according to Don Hayes babies can have eight to 10 of respiratory viral infections.
Symptoms: runny nose, wheezing, coughing, low fever (around 36-38 ° C)
Treatment: "The important thing is to avoid all cold medicines," said Allen Dozor, MD, head of pediatric pulmonology at Maria Fareri Children's Hospital at Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, NY. Although the symptoms usually subside within two weeks, call the pediatrician when the baby has wheezing, sneezing or coughing from a newborn baby. In infants who are less than 3 months old, colds can quickly develop into pneumonia, RSV or other serious conditions.
ASTHMA
Asthma is a special case and is difficult to diagnose in infants. Asthma is a chronic lung disease where the airways swell, squeeze and produce excess mucus. There are only thirty percent of babies coughing and wheezing with a cold. However, it is not impossible for a baby to develop asthma.
Symptoms: the baby has repeated wheezing for a long time
Treatment: The only way is to check with a pediatrician. Also, check whether there is a history of asthma in the family (asthma has a strong genetic link).
How to prevent wheezing in babies?
- Keep your baby away from smoke.
- Vacuum the carpet or floor as often as possible to prevent dust accumulation.
- Increase the ventilation of the house to smooth air circulation in the room and prevent mold growth.
- Wash baby cots regularly and periodically with hot water to get rid of dust mites.
- Do not often use air conditioning (AC)
- Keep babies from dogs and cats. If she wheezes or coughs, the baby's mother may be allergic.
