Baby Wheezing
What to do about baby wheezing
There are many different reasons you might see baby wheezing in your little one, so it’s always important to get it checked out. Baby wheezing can be a symptom of something simple like a cold or asthma, or it can be an indication of a more serious breathing problem. It’s always best to ask a doctor instead of worrying about it.
If your baby has a cold, then the baby wheezing is probably just another cold symptom. Beware however, because that cold could be turning into bronchiolitis, a more pronounced cough that leads to labored breathing. Your doctor will want to see baby right away if this is the problem. A cold that seems to be getting much worse and brings high fever along with it may also be progressing into pneumonia, which is a very serious disease, especially for young children. This problem may even require hospitalization in very young children.
Another common cause of baby wheezing is asthma. Asthma usually appears more often at night in very small children, and it may go along with the seasons. If anyone in your family has a history of asthma, then it’s quite possible that baby also has asthma. You’ll want to get treatment started for asthma right away if your doctor thinks it’s causing all that baby wheezing.
Allergies can also cause baby wheezing, so it’s important to think about whether the wheezing started right after baby ate something new. Food allergies can be extremely dangerous, and it’s important to get treatment immediately after you discover a food allergy in your baby. It may be necessary to dial 911 if your baby is having an extremely difficult time breathing. An environmental allergy is not usually as serious as a food allergy, although it also can cause wheezing in babies. Environmental allergies usually cause other symptoms that look like a cold. Usually sneezing and itchy, watery eyes will accompany symptoms for environmental allergies.
Another common reason for baby wheezing is acid reflux. This problem may not seem as obvious at first because it’s more of a gastrointestinal issue. It’s also very common in infants because the flap that controls the opening into the stomach simply isn’t as strong in babies as it is in most adults. Usually reflux will clear up on its own as baby ages. You’ll know acid reflux is causing baby wheezing if your baby spits up and vomits frequently. Your doctor will be able to give you some tips for dealing with very severe reflux if it inhibits your baby’s ability to eat.
One of the more serious causes of baby wheezing is cystic fibrosis. Sometimes one of the first signs of this condition is a chronic cough with yellow or green phlegm and frequent colds. Another sign of cystic fibrosis is an inability to gain weight even though the baby eats well. There is no cure for cystic fibrosis, but doctors can certainly help you manage your baby’s condition and teach him to manage it as he ages.