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Wheezing
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Wheezing is usually described as a musical sound that is usually heard when your child takes a breath out, and sometimes also when he breathes in. This sound is caused by an obstruction to the regular flow of air from the lungs, and is usually caused by inflammation, either from asthma or a viral infection. It is important to remember that not every wheeze is caused by asthma. You should seek medical attention if your child has a sudden onset of wheezing and he is having difficulty breathing. Common causes of wheezing include:
- Bronchiolitis: an infection usually caused by the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which produces swelling and mucus production in the small breathing tubes of your child's lungs. Infants aged two to twelve months are the most likely to become infected and usually begin having the symptoms of a common cold, with a runny nose and mild cough. Over the next few days the cough worsens and your child may develop fever, wheezing and difficulty breathing.
- Asthma: (also called reactive airway disease) is a common problem in infants and children. The most common symptoms include coughing, wheezing and trouble breathing, which is caused by inflammation and tightness in the breathing tubes of the lungs. The coughing and wheezing may be worse after exercise, after exposure to common triggers (cold air, smoke, and other irritants), and at night.
- Foreign body aspiration: If your child ingests an object, such as a coin, peanut, etc and it gets stuck in a breathing tube, then it may cause wheezing and difficulty breathing. You may remember an incident when he seemed to choke on something and had a coughing spasm before the wheezing began. It is most common in children 1 to 4 years of age. Unlike asthma, the wheezing may be just on one side of his chest.
- Gastroesophageal Reflux: children with GER can sometimes have wheezing as the stomach contents are aspirated into the lungs or as the esophagus gets more acid in it. The symptoms of coughing and /or wheezing may be worse when he lies down.
- Vocal Cord Dysfunction: In children with this condition, the vocal cords close inappropriately and this can lead to difficulty breathing that is often confused with asthma.
- Other conditions that can chronic wheezing include cystic fibrosis, anatomical abnormalities, including a narrowing of the airways (bronchomalacia and tracheomalacia) or blood vessel abnormalities, such as a web or vascular ring.
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