Wheezing in Children

Last reviewed by Dr.Mary on August 7th, 2018.

Wheezing is normally considered to be a sign which is a very classic of asthma in children. But not every child who had episodes of wheezing will have asthma and not every child who has asthma will wheeze.


Normally wheezing is described as the sound which is normally heard when the children take a breath out as well as sometimes when children breathe in. This wheezing sound is caused by obstructions to the normal air flow from the lungs as well as inflammation, either from a viral infection or asthma.

Causes

Common reasons for wheezing can include:

Bronchiolitis

This is an infection which is normally caused by the RSV or ”respiratory syncytial virus” and causes mucus production as well as swelling in the breathing tubes in the lungs of young children. This is usually because these breathing tubes are so small in a child. In infants 2 to 12 months old RSV is the most probable to cause an infected as well as usually starts the indications of a common cold with a mild cough as well as runny nose. During the next couple of days this cough usually worsens and the child can develop wheezing, difficulty breathing and fever.

Asthma

Also known as “reactive airway disease”, asthma is a normal problem with children and infants. The common symptoms of this disease are wheezing, coughing, trouble breathing and this is triggered by tightness as well as inflammation in the breathing pathways of the lungs. This wheezing and coughing is usually worse after exercising, exposure to certain triggers such as smoke, cold air, or other irritants and especially at night.

Aspiration of foreign body

If the child ingests any object, for example a peanut, coin, etc and it becomes lodged in a breathing tube, it can cause wheezing as well as difficulty breathing. This is very common in toddlers who are one to four years of age. This kind of wheezing may be only on one side of the chest.

Gastroesophageal Reflux

Children with GERDs often having wheezing due to the contents of the stomach being aspirated in the lungs or as the esophagus itself gets more acid in it. The symptoms of wheezing and/or coughing usually are worse when the child lies down.

Dysfunction of the vocal cord

Children with this problem have vocal cords which close improperly and lead to trouble breathing which is often confused with asthma .

Other problems which can cause chronic wheezing include anatomical anomalies, including the narrowing of the airways or abnormalities of the blood vessel, such as a vascular or web ring as well as cystic fibrosis.

Treatment

If the symptoms look like those of acute bronchitis, below are treatments that can be applied.

  • Rest
  • Pain killers
  • Fluids
  • Paracetamol
  • Heating pad
  • Steam inhalation
  • Hot water bottle
  • Physiotherapy
  • Antibiotics
  • Stop dairy products as they increase sputum
  • Avoid hot water or very cold water
  • Fresh air

Home Remedies

Here are several home remedy methods that can help with wheezing in children:

  • Pepper, gooseberry and dry ginger mixed in equal parts. Mix this powder with butter or honey making a paste. Apply to the chest area before going to bed.
  • Camphor and asafetida mixed in equal parts. Make into small tablets and take with hot water 3-4 times a day
  • Mix a pinch of camphor, ½ spoon of asafetida and ¼ glass of sesame oil. Apply it on the chest 2 times a day for quick relief. This home remedy reduces symptoms such as tiredness and chest pain as well as wheezing.
  • Soak a small piece of garlic in hot water and sip on it during the day
  • Turmeric power is roasted and then given 2 spoons daily with hot water.
  • Consume a spoon of jiggery with mustard oil for wheezing – this is considered one of the best home remedies.
  • Honey, turmeric as well as pepper is mixed in equal quantity – apply on the chest for relief

These home remedies for wheezing in children can work wonders and give relief quickly. If the child is prone to this problem, it is best to seek the advice of your primary care physician.

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