Title: Respiratory Distress in Children: Signs All Parents Need to Know
Headings: Signs Of Respiratory Distress In Children All Parents Need To Know
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What Parents Need To Know About Coronavirus
Signs Of Respiratory Distress In Children All Parents Need To Know
Symptoms of Respiratory Distress in Children
Tachypnea – Fast Breathing
This is a good example of a child who has tachypnea and retractions:
Low Pulse Oximetry And Respiratory Distress
Wheezing
Here are two good examples of children who are wheezing:
Retractions
Subcostal Retractions occur toward the bottom of the ribs.
Substernal Retractions occur at the bottom of the sternum.
Intercostal retractions occur in-between your child’s ribs.
Suprasternal retractions occur at the top of the sternum.
Supraclavicular retractions occur right above the clavicles (collarbones)
Grunting
Stridor
Nasal Flaring
Color Changes
Changes in alertness
Progression Of Respiratory Distress to Respiratory Failure In Children
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Content: Most healthy children average from 97-100% at any given time. If a child’s pulse oximetry is below 95%, they should be evaluated by your pediatric provider. Medical grade pulse oximeters available at hospitals and medical offices provide the most accurate readings, however, there are some home models that can be helpful for some parents. For children ages 2 and older, I like using this Acc U Rate pulse oximeter for children. Infants’ fingers are too small for a classic finger model. I think the best commercially available pulse oximeter for infants is the Owlet smart sock. It’s important to note that pulse oximetry is just one way of evaluating a child’s respiratory function. It is only one piece of the overall picture. All of the other signs and symptoms described in this post are just as important. Monitoring pulse oximeter tends to be most helpful for children who are prone to respiratory illnesses or asthma, but many of the parents I work with find it helpful to have on hand when trying to decide if their child has a common cough or if they need further medical attention.