How do I know if my child is having trouble breathing?
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RealAge answered:“Breathing problems” are a common cause of unnecessary trips to the emergency department at three a.m. for kids who only have a tough case of the sniffles. Severe breathing difficulty is pretty easy to spot: Your child won’t just be coughing and snuffling (which necessitates an office visit); she’ll be having a hard time getting enough air. Her breathing might be either very fast (she’s using the muscles in her neck and chest to breathe) or very shallow and slow (she’s too tired to breathe adequately). If you’re not sure if your child’s breathing really constitutes an emergency, call your pediatrician. Go to the Emergency Department (ED) if you truly think it’s urgent.
From The Smart Parent's Guide: Getting Your Kids Through Checkups, Illnesses, and Accidents by Jennifer Trachtenberg.
Find out more about this book: The Smart Parent's Guide: Getting Your Kids Through Checkups, Illnesses, an...
“Breathing problems” are a common cause of unnecessary trips to the emergency department at three a.m. for kids who only have a tough case of the sniffles. Severe breathing difficulty is pretty easy to spot: Your child won’t just... More

