The most common causes of shortness of breath in children & bull; hello healthy

If your little one has recently complained of shortness of breath or finds it difficult to breathe freely, you should not underestimate the complaint. There are many causes of shortness of breath in children. A child with shortness of breath could be due to a stuffy nose from a cold, or signs of choking or a serious illness.

Causes of shortness of breath in children

It is important for parents to know the various causes of shortness of breath in children. That way, your little one can immediately get the best treatment according to his condition.

1. Colds

Colds are one of the most common respiratory diseases. Even so, colds should not be underestimated because they can cause shortness of breath in children.

Colds cause the respiratory tract to produce mucus (mucus) that is more than usual. This nasal congestion eventually blocks the passage of air in and out, causing shortness of breath in children.

Apart from shortness of breath, a cold can also cause sneezing, sore throat, and weakness. The symptoms can be more debilitating if the child also has a history of sinusitis.

2. Choking on food

The child may suddenly become short of breath as a result of choking on food or drink. Choking causes food that is supposed to travel down the throat into the vocal cords or into the airways. This condition can also occur when a toddler casually inserts a small foreign object into his mouth.

Apart from being a cause of shortness of breath in children, choking can make your little one cough. Coughing is actually the body's natural reflex to expel or clear foreign objects trapped in the airways.

If foreign objects enter the airway and cannot be removed, the child may become deprived of oxygen. This can make the condition worse. That is why a choking child must be treated immediately so that it does not get worse.

3. Allergies

Allergies, whether triggered by food or inhaled substances (dust, star hair, pollen, etc.), can cause shortness of breath in children. When children are exposed to allergens (substances that cause allergies), their immune system will automatically produce antibodies called histamine.

Histamine acts against substances that are considered harmful to the body. Unfortunately for children who have allergies, the histamine in their bodies works excessively against substances that are not considered dangerous.

As a result, your little one's body will cause a number of reactions, such as shortness of breath, runny or stuffy nose, watery eyes, itching, and sneezing.

If handled quickly and appropriately, allergies will not be dangerous. However, you also have to be aware of the risk of a severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis causes a rapid drop in blood pressure, which can lead to loss of consciousness.

Anaphylactic shock requires immediate medical attention so that it is not fatal.

4. Excessive anxiety

Excessive anxiety, whether due to fear or nervousness, can cause shortness of breath in children. Anxiety puts your body into shape fight-or-flight,aka the stress response that ultimately triggers a panic attack.

Well, this panic attack can make you unable to breathe more freely or short of breath. Apart from shortness of breath, children can also experience a number of other symptoms, such as sweating, trembling, heart racing, and weakness and lack of energy.

5. Obesity

Obesity is in fact included as one of the causes of shortness of breath in children.

In general, children who are overweight or obese are more likely to complain of shortness of breath than children at a healthy weight. Obese children even tend to have difficulty breathing freely during light activity, for example walking 100 meters to the front of the house or climbing stairs that are not steep.

This difficulty breathing is caused by the accumulation of fat around the abdomen and chest which hinders the work of the airway muscles. This then forces the child's lungs to work extra hard so that they can expand optimally.

In addition, the heart is also encouraged to work harder to pump blood so that it can pass through cholesterol-clogged blood vessels.

6. Asthma

Asthma is a chronic disease that often first appears in childhood and will continue into adulthood. If the child often complains of shortness of breath, this condition could be the cause.

The cause of shortness of breath in this one child occurs when the airways (bronchi) become inflamed. Inflammation causes the bronchi to swell, narrow, and produce more mucus than usual.

When the lungs do not get enough air supply, the child will find it difficult to breathe more easily. The child's breathing also tends to be faster, shallower, and is also accompanied by a 'giggling' sound.

Shortness of breath due to asthma can appear anytime and anywhere. However, it is easier for children to develop symptoms when they are in cold places, after exercise, or are exposed to allergens such as dust, star hair, cigarette smoke, and many more.

7. Pneumonia

One of the lung diseases whose symptoms can cause shortness of breath in children is pneumonia (wet lung). Pneumonia is an infection (bacterial, fungal, viral, or parasitic) that causes inflammation of the air sacs in the lungs, causing them to swell and fill with fluid.

As a result, the supply of oxygen that enters the blood is drastically reduced so that a number of body cells do not function normally due to lack of oxygen.

Apart from pneumonia, several other lung problems that can cause shortness of breath in children include:

Pulmonary embolism
Pneumothorax
Tuberculosis
Pulmonary hypertension
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Lung cancer

8. Heart problems

Narrowing or blockage that occurs in the large vessels of the heart can block the supply of oxygen to the body. This causes several symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest tightness, fatigue, and fluid buildup in the organs.

Congenital heart defects characterized by abnormal heartbeats can also cause shortness of breath in children. Not only that, problems with the heart muscle and the lining of the sac around the heart can also cause the same thing.

As previously explained, the causes of shortness of breath in children are many. Ranging from mild, such as colds and choking, to signs of heart and lung problems.

Therefore, in order to find out the exact cause, do not hesitate to immediately invite your child to see a doctor. The sooner the cause is identified, the easier the treatment will be. This will also speed up the healing process.