The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America reports that 5 million American children under the age of 18 suffer from asthma. In an infant with asthma, the airways become blocked or narrowed by irritants--allergens, cold air, exercise and infection--and difficulty in breathing occurs. While this can happen with anyone, a person with asthma has an airway that is hyperactive and the narrowing or blockage in the airway is more exaggerated. Many different symptoms can occur and can get better or worse over time.
Emergency Symptoms
Parents should consult their baby's healthcare provider if they are concerned or uncertain if their baby's breathing is normal. Asthma is a serious condition that needs consistent medical management and may require immediate medical attention at times. Parents should also immediately seek medical attention if their baby appears to be using his abdominal muscles to breath, is widening his nostrils as he breathes or his abdomen appears to be sucked under his ribs as he is breathing. A baby may also exhibit cyanosis--a blueish hue to the face, lips or fingernails if he is in respiratory distress due to asthma.
Wheezing
A whistling or wheezing sound may be heard when an asthmatic baby is exhaling. While this can be a symptom of asthma, it is important to note that some babies will wheeze when he is experiencing respiratory infections that are not related to asthma. Wheezing is often thought of as a hallmark symptom of asthma, but in reality not all babies with asthma will wheeze and not all wheezing means that asthma is the cause. Parents should consult their baby's healthcare provider if they are concerned about their baby wheezing.
Coughing
Coughing associated with asthma can be constant or intermittent--or as a baby grows it may be associated with activity--and can often be increased at nighttime. Parents should listen during nighttime hours for any bouts of coughing that may be interfering with sleep or waking their baby up. Crying--and later laughing--can bring on fits of coughing (or wheezing) in a baby with asthma.
Repeated Illness
Babies with asthma may be more likely to suffer from bouts of pneumonia, bronchitis or respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) than their asthma-free counterparts. A baby may also have a harder time fighting off and recovering from these illnesses if she has asthma. You may also see a rise in a baby's wheezing and coughing symptoms during periods of illness. Repeated infections may be a symptom of asthma. Parents should talk with their baby's healthcare provider if they have concerns over their baby's health history.
Noisy Breathing
Because an infant can't communicate through words, detecting asthma can sometimes be difficult. Newborns should be taking in 30 to 60 breaths per minute while babies in their first year will take in 20 to 40 breaths per minute. A toddler in her second year will take approximately 20 to 30 breaths per minute. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America states noisy breathing 50 percent above normal is a symptom of asthma in infants.
Other Symptoms
A baby who is suffering from a flare-up of an underlying asthmatic condition may experience lethargy and be uninterested in his usual favorite activities. He may also have difficulty sucking or eating and his crying may sound softer or different in some way. Parents should consult their baby's healthcare provider immediately if these symptoms occur.
