Wheezing can make your child extremely uncomfortable and irritable. When your child is making a wheezing sound during breathing, it usually means her lower airways are swollen. Wheezing may be a symptom of asthma, respiratory syncytial virus, pneumonia or bronchiolitis.
Definition
Wheezing is a high-pitched whistling sound made when your child is breathing out and the air is flowing through narrowed airways in the lungs. Wheezing is most commonly a symptom of asthma, although asthma is not always to blame. Wheezing is normally heard by a doctor through a stethoscope but sometimes may be heard without one.
Asthma
Asthma, common among children, is a lung condition that causes difficulty in breathing. Asthma is often inherited and affects your child's airways and bronchial tubes. Children with asthma have inflamed airways that produce thick mucus, making breathing difficult. Symptoms include wheezing, shortness of breath and coughing. According to MayoClinic.com, childhood asthma is treatable. Asthma cannot be cured, but your doctor can keep symptoms under control with a written plan, monitoring and making treatment changes when needed.
Respiratory Syncytial Virus
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes infections in the respiratory tract and lungs. According to MayoClinic.com, RSV is so common that most children under the age of two have been infected by the virus. Symptoms of RSV include wheezing, runny nose, low-grade fever, sore throat and mild headache. Antibiotics are of no use for RSV, because it is a viral infection. Your doctor may recommend acetaminophen or ibuprofen to reduce the fever associated with RSV.
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs, which may be caused by a virus, bacteria, fungi or parasites. Symptoms vary depending on the age of your child and include fever, wheezing, chills, rapid breathing, vomiting and chest pain. With treatment, bacterial pneumonia may be cured within one or two weeks, viral pneumonia may last longer.
Bronchiolitis
Bronchiolitis is a common respiratory tract illness in children and infants caused by an infection that affects your child's airways and lungs. The airways fill with mucus making breaking difficult. Symptoms of bronchiolitis include runny nose, mild fever and a wheezing cough. The best way to prevent the virus that causes bronchiolitis is to keep your child's hands clean and avoid other children who may have coughs or colds. According to Kids Health, bronchiolitis normally lasts about 12 days, but the wheezing may last for weeks. Over time and after drinking plenty of fluids, the symptoms will disappear. Since bronchiolitis is caused by a virus, antibiotics will not be effective in fighting this illness.
