What to do if your child has laryngeal obstruction

Laryngeal obstruction in children is a disease that is extremely threatening to children. It is a syndrome in which the throat and surrounding tissues become lesions, causing the larynx to narrow, which can easily cause breathing difficulties in children. Many diseases in life or bad habits of children may cause laryngeal obstruction, such as bronchitis, pharyngitis or children accidentally swallowing glass balls. So, what should we do if our child has laryngeal obstruction?

1. What to do if a child has laryngeal obstruction

1. If your baby has acute laryngitis, epiglottitis, etc., even if it is a mild case, it is best to hospitalize him for treatment and observation. Otherwise, if acute laryngitis or epiglottitis is not handled properly or treated in time, it can easily cause acute laryngeal obstruction. In addition, children should be encouraged to exercise more and strengthen their physical fitness, avoid catching colds and flu that may cause acute laryngitis, epiglottitis, etc., and avoid inhaling toxic substances.

2. Develop good living habits, do not talk or laugh loudly while eating, and avoid giving younger babies peanuts, beans and other foods that may cause choking.

3. Consult a doctor and take your baby to get the HIB vaccine (Haemophilus influenzae type B vaccine). Epiglottitis is one of the causes of laryngeal obstruction, and this type of vaccine can prevent epiglottitis, thereby reducing the occurrence of laryngeal obstruction.

2. What should I do if my baby accidentally swallows a foreign object and causes laryngeal obstruction?

1. Perform the pat back technique 5 times

Hold the baby's face with your hands, with the base of your thumb placed under the baby's jaw and your forearm placed on the baby's chest and abdomen; use your other hand to hold the baby's head, neck and back, and slowly turn the baby over so that the baby lies on the first aid worker's forearm, using his thigh as support; the baby's head should be lower than the body, and use the base of your other hand to pat the baby's shoulder blades five times. If the obstruction cannot be coughed out, chest compression should be performed immediately.

2. Chest compression method

Use the hand that pats the baby's back to stabilize the baby, and keep the other hand in the same position. Turn the baby over so that its face is facing up, and place it firmly on your thigh. Make sure the baby's head is lower than the body; place the middle finger and ring finger of the patting hand on the baby's sternum below the nipple line and press 5 times. If the obstruction cannot be coughed out, repeat 5 back pats and 5 compressions until the obstruction is coughed out.