How to tell if your baby is panting

When babies are young, their lung function is not fully developed, so they will breathe rapidly when drinking milk or eating. This often occurs after a cold, so many parents mistakenly believe that the rapid breathing is caused by a cold or anxiety, and do not associate asthma with bronchial problems, which can easily lead to misdiagnosis.

How to tell if your baby is panting

1. The most intuitive judgment is to observe the breathing rate. If your baby is breathing rapidly, or even exhaling or inhaling with large gulps of air through his mouth, he is panting heavily.

2. It is recommended that parents let their babies drink some water appropriately and drink it slowly in small sips. In addition, if the cough is too severe, seek medical attention immediately. No matter what causes the cough, the longer you delay, the more likely it is to cause capillary bronchitis, and in severe cases, pneumonia. The earlier the treatment, the better the prevention.

1. Chest X-ray

A chest X-ray should be obtained to exclude lung parenchymal lesions, congenital anomalies, and foreign body signs. During an acute exacerbation of asthma, the chest radiograph may be normal or may show emphysema, peribronchial interstitial infiltrates, and atelectasis. Pneumothorax and mediastinal emphysema are occasionally seen. When a child has an asthma attack, wheezing sounds, mainly due to exhalation, can be heard in both lungs.

2. Pulmonary function test

The use of bronchodilators has a significant effect on cough and asthma. For children suspected of asthma with FEV1 ≥ 70% of the normal predicted value, a bronchial provocation test can be selected to measure airway responsiveness. For children suspected of asthma with FEV1 < 70% of the normal predicted value, a bronchodilator test can be selected to evaluate the reversibility of airflow limitation. A positive bronchial provocation test, a positive bronchodilator test, or a daily PEF variation rate (continuous monitoring for 1 to 2 weeks) ≥ 20% are all helpful in diagnosing asthma.

3. Allergen testing to rule out other diseases that cause wheezing, chest tightness and coughing.

Taking care of a baby requires the mother's patience and care, especially when the baby is young. They don't know how to express their feelings at all. If they feel uncomfortable, they will only cry. In this case, the mother must be careful to check whether the baby's discomfort is caused by illness. If so, the baby must be sent to the hospital for treatment as soon as possible and must not be delayed.