{"id":2451,"date":"2024-07-26T18:13:49","date_gmt":"2024-07-26T22:13:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entandallergyspecialists.org\/?p=2451"},"modified":"2024-07-26T18:14:25","modified_gmt":"2024-07-26T22:14:25","slug":"understanding-and-managing-pediatric-breathing-disorders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entandallergyspecialists.org\/understanding-and-managing-pediatric-breathing-disorders\/","title":{"rendered":"Understanding and Managing Pediatric Breathing Disorders"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/entandallergyspecialists.org\/ent\/pediatric-breathing-disorders\/\">Breathing disorders in children<\/a> can be a major concern for parents and caregivers. By familiarizing yourself with common pediatric breathing disorders and their treatments, you can manage these conditions effectively and know when to seek medical advice. Read along to learn more about the most common pediatric breathing disorders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Common Pediatric Breathing Disorders<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Asthma<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1254\" height=\"836\" src=\"https:\/\/entandallergyspecialists.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Doctor-administers-inhaler-to-small-child.jpg\" alt=\"Doctor administers inhaler for a young child\" class=\"wp-image-2454\" style=\"width:543px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/entandallergyspecialists.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Doctor-administers-inhaler-to-small-child.jpg 1254w, https:\/\/entandallergyspecialists.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Doctor-administers-inhaler-to-small-child-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1254px) 100vw, 1254px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Asthma is a chronic condition characterized by inflammation and narrowing of the airways, which makes breathing difficult. Symptoms of asthma include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness and shortness of breath. These symptoms can vary in severity and may be triggered by allergens, exercise, cold air or respiratory infections. Symptom management options may include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Inhalers: Quick-relief inhalers help open the airways during an asthma attack, while long-term control inhalers reduce inflammation and prevent symptoms.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Medications: Oral medications like leukotriene modifiers can assist in managing asthma symptoms.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Avoiding Triggers: Identifying and avoiding asthma triggers, such as pollen, dust mites and pet dander, can help reduce the frequency of attacks.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Asthma action plan: Developing an asthma action plan with a healthcare provider ensures that parents and children know what steps to take during an asthma attack.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bronchitis<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Bronchitis is the inflammation of the bronchial tubes that carry air to the lungs. It can be acute or chronic, with acute bronchitis often resulting from a viral infection. Symptoms include a persistent cough, mucus production, fatigue and a slight fever. Symptom management options may include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Rest and fluids: Encouraging the child to rest and drink plenty of fluids supports recovery.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Medications<strong>:<\/strong> Pain relievers, fever reducers and cough suppressants may be prescribed to alleviate symptoms. Antibiotics are only effective if a bacterial infection is present.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Humidifiers: Using a humidifier in the child\u2019s room can help ease breathing by adding moisture to the air.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sleep Apnea<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Pediatric <a href=\"https:\/\/entandallergyspecialists.org\/ent\/sleep-apnea\/\">sleep apnea<\/a> is a disorder where a child\u2019s breathing is repeatedly interrupted during sleep. Causes can include enlarged tonsils or adenoids, obesity or craniofacial abnormalities. Symptoms of sleep apnea include loud snoring, gasping for air during sleep, daytime sleepiness and behavioral issues. Ways to manage symptoms may include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Adenotonsillectomy: Surgical removal of the tonsils and adenoids is a common treatment for sleep apnea in children.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP): For children who cannot undergo surgery or do not respond to surgery, a CPAP machine may be recommended to keep the airways open during sleep.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">When To See a Doctor<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Knowing when to seek medical advice is crucial for managing pediatric breathing disorders effectively. Consult a doctor if your child experiences:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Persistent or severe breathing difficulties<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Wheezing or chronic coughing<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Frequent respiratory infections<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Snoring or disrupted sleep patterns<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Behavioral changes or daytime sleepiness<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Immediate medical attention is necessary if your child shows signs of a severe asthma attack, such as extreme difficulty breathing, bluish lips or face, or if they are unable to speak or eat due to breathing problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Understanding these conditions, their treatments and recognizing when to seek medical help are essential for effective management. If you have concerns about your child\u2019s breathing, contact ENT &#038; Allergy Specialists &#8211; Ear Nose and Throat Physicians and Surgeons to schedule a consultation today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><ul class=\"related-posts\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/entandallergyspecialists.org\/how-ents-provide-care-for-athletes\/\" class=\"related-post\">How ENT&#8217;s Provide Care for Athletes<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/entandallergyspecialists.org\/common-causes-of-earaches-and-how-to-manage-them\/\" class=\"related-post\">Common Causes of Earaches and How To Manage Them<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/entandallergyspecialists.org\/how-to-prevent-and-treat-swimmers-ear-this-season\/\" class=\"related-post\">How To Prevent and Treat Swimmer\u2019s Ear This Season<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Breathing disorders in children can be a major concern for parents and caregivers. By familiarizing yourself with common pediatric breathing disorders and their treatments, you can manage these conditions effectively and know when to seek medical advice. Read along to learn more about the most common pediatric breathing disorders. Common Pediatric Breathing Disorders Asthma Asthma&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2451","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-ent"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/entandallergyspecialists.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2451"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/entandallergyspecialists.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/entandallergyspecialists.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entandallergyspecialists.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entandallergyspecialists.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2451"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/entandallergyspecialists.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2451\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/entandallergyspecialists.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2451"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entandallergyspecialists.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2451"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entandallergyspecialists.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2451"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}