Is your child suffering from wheezing? Read about the common causes of wheezing and when to seek medical help. Wheezing in children does not necessarily mean it is asthma. Wheezing can be distressing for your baby. Wheezing can be treated at home, however if it persists and symptoms become more serious, you should seek medical help.

Wheezing is a high-pitched whistling sound that usually occurs while the child is breathing out. It can also occur while inhaling. Wheezing occurs when there is a blockage to the regular flow of air from the lungs. Air pollution can cause wheezing and cough in young children.

Common Causes of Wheezing in Children

Asthma

Wheezing is a characteristic sign of asthma. However, not all children who wheeze are likely to develop asthma and not all children with asthma wheeze. Studies show that a large number of children living in urban areas with heavy traffic show signs of asthma because of pollution in the air. Frequent episodes of wheezing, coughing and difficulty in breathing are common symptoms of asthma. Other common symptoms of asthma are recurring cold, wheeze and difficulty breathing during activities like running and jumping, constant coughing which worsens at night and constantly feeling unwell.

Asthma can accelerate when the child has exposure to cold, pollutants, after eating foods like egg and milk and contact with pet fur. If you think your child might be having asthma you should definitely see a doctor. Now in modern times, with advancement in medicine, asthma can be controlled very well. Early diagnosis of asthma is always better.

Bronchitis

Bronchitis is an infection mostly caused by Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). Infants between two to twelve months are mostly affected. Infants infected with asthma usually show signs like cold with a runny nose, mild fever and cough, reduced feeding, breathing difficulty and wheezing which may or may not be audible.

However, these infants recover in 2 weeks, but continued wheezing and cough is present for some more time. At times, hospitalization may be required if there is severe breathing difficulty.

Choking on a Foreign Object

Sometimes, entry of a foreign object like a coin in the breathing tube may also cause wheezing and difficulty in breathing. If your child previously never had any episode of wheezing and there is a sudden onset of wheezing, foreign body aspiration could be the reason. This is most common in children between one to four years of age. If you think there has been an entry of a foreign object in your child's body and even if there is no visible sign of choking you should see a doctor.

Gastroesophageal Reflux

This is generally seen in infants very small, as young as four weeks. It subsides by the time they reach one year and once they are able to walk and take solid foods. Children with GER can sometimes have wheezing as due to the immaturity of the sphincter there is reflex of stomach contents which has been ingested.

Vocal Chord Dysfunction

In this condition, there is breathing difficulty and it is many a time confused with asthma. In this condition, the vocal chords close inappropriately which causes difficulty for the child while breathing.

Other causes of Wheezing

Other conditions which can cause chronic wheezing are cystic fibrosis, congenital malformation of airways or blood vessel abnormalities.

Many a time, a viral infection in infants and toddlers also causes wheezing. Wheezing is also a symptom when a child gets infected with pneumonia.

Wheezing sometimes also occurs as an allergy reaction Allergic reaction to cold, pet fur, dust and certain foods can result in a runny nose, watery eyes, sneezing and coughing accompanied by a wheeze.

When to see a Doctor for Wheezing in Children

If the coughing and wheezing is persistent and is not settling down, then you should see a doctor. If your child is feeling more and more unwell and is feeling troubled by the coughing and wheezing, take him to a children's hospital or doctor for check up.

If your child keeps complaining that he or she is not able to breathe and is having difficulty in breathing you should immediately see a doctor. Choking in children must not be taken lightly and the child should immediately be taken to a doctor. If along with wheezing, your child shows a declined appetite, bluish colour of skin, or there is noisy breathing you should immediately seek medical help.