BREATHLESSNESS

Take note when any child breathes over 50 times a minute.

Smaller children normally have a faster rate of breathing than older children, but you should immediately show the child to a doctor if the rate of breathing is as follows: 

Upto 2 months of age	60 or more per minute
2 months to 1 year	50 or more per minute
1 to 5 years	40 or more per minute
Older children	30 or more per minute

To count the rate, place your watch (with a seconds’ hand) over the chest of the child and count the number of breaths per minute. 

Along with fast breathing, if the spaces between the lower ribs of a child’s chest go in as the child breathes, rush to the doctor. If such a child is unable to drink anything, it is a medical emergency and the child should be taken to hospital immediately.

COMMON CAUSES: A few common causes of breathlessness discussed under individual headings are:

• Pneumonia (see Pneumonia)
• Asthma (see Allergies)
• Bronchiolitis
• Stridor associated with a foreign body or serious infection of the throat (see Stride)
• Heart failure due to congenital or acquired heart disease (see Congenital heart disease)

11 February, 2013