My 5 year old daughter keeps taking really short, but deep breaths. It started when she was having really bad allergies and her nose was super stuffed up. Then it went away (the breaths). Now it has come back...sometimes when she is upset and other times just randomly. I'm wondering if it has just become a habit or if it has something to do with allergies. Anyone have any experience with this?
Thanks!
I agree with the other two. Call the Dr. My son was having something similar before and I took him in. They thought he may have pneumonia and needed to be put on a nebulizer. I hope she is ok, but definitely call the dr to be safe.
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Call your ped ASAP - get her in tomorrow (as long as they don't want her seen tonight) to have them do a quick oxygen test on her to be sure she's not laboring to breathe, which is really dangerous.
i agree with the others. if her skin color changes or you see her belly sucking in right under her rib cage you need to go to the hospital as these are signs of laboring to breathe. if you don't see these call the ped and get her in tomorrow to check those o2 sats
My son has been doing that on and off for awhile and we thought it was related to a recent cold. But it was from his new knowledge of breathing and lungs. We had read him a book about breathing. So, is it possible that she is experimenting with her own control over breathing. Just a thought.
Yikes.
That sounds like "belly breathing"... which is a sign of respiratory distress. AND is ER worthy. Preferably a children's ER.
Esp if she has allergies she's a strong candidate to also have either asthma or walking pneumonia or pleural effusions or a combo of the above. I didn't know any better, but come to find my son was desatting (o2 levels dropping below 90%) for YEARS. He's always been a super active very healthy kid... so it was ALWAYS missed. He likes doctors, and we'd just never happened to have a spell/attack while IN the doctor's office. And half my family is IN medicine (doctor's and nurses and scientists) and we ALL missed it.
Other signs to look for are ANY "retractions" (indenting) at the collarbone, ribcage, belly, or throat. Go stand in the bathroom, cover your nose and mouth with your hand so you can't breathe at ALL, and TRY to breathe. See those indents in your neck, ribcage, etc. as you try to inhale? That's what you're looking for.
He has an unknown respiratory issue (something in between CF and asthma)... but like asthma... it's often triggered when he's upset. In fact, MOST times he's upset his lungs start to shut down. Other times it happens pretty randomly.
Here's a link to my absolute FAV portable/home oximeter. There are some look alike ones for half as much, but this one is the best. It is ALWAYS dead on with the hospital oximeters, and it's what all the pulmonolgy parents (including myself) keep on us at all times. 98/99 is normal. Anything below 90 = an oxygen tank. Below 80 = ICU.
Order it. Best $40 ever spent. But if she starts doing the funny breathing again before it comes... go straight to the ER.
http://www.amazon.com/Concord-Fingertip-Oximeter-carrying...
