While some infants are born with no problems, there are a number of infants who are born with, or develop, lung problems during the first year of life. According to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, asthma, cystic fibrosis and bronchopulmonary dysplasia are the most common chronic lung diseases in children.
Types of Lung Problems
Some newborns are born with a lung condition called transient tachypnea of the newborn, or TTN. During the first hours of life their breathing is more rapid and labored. This condition is because of extra fluid in the infant's lungs. According to KidsHealth, about 1 percent of newborns develop TTN, which eases after a few days of treatment.
Some infants may be born with bronchopulmonary dysplasia, or BPD, which involves abnormal development of the lung tissue. This condition includes inflammation and scarring of the lungs and develops often in premature babies. The infant's airways are smaller, making breathing difficult and creating problems with lung function. Between 5,000 and 10,000 cases of this disorder occur every year in the United States. Children with extremely low birth weight are at most risk.
Asthma is a chronic disease of the lungs resulting in the child's airways tightening, swelling and producing excess mucus. This mucus may cause breathing problems in your infant. According to KidsHealth, there are more than 6 million children under the age of 18 that have asthma. Most kids develop asthma symptoms between the age of 3 and 6. It can be difficult to determine if an infant has asthma because it's difficult to measure infant lung function and because a baby's lung mechanics make it difficult to diagnose true asthma symptoms.
Cystic fibrosis, or CF, affects the lungs and digestive system. This condition is a genetic disorder. Infants with cystic fibrosis are more vulnerable to lung infections because the passageways inside the lungs are disrupted with a thick and sticky mucus.
Symptoms
Symptoms of TTN include rapid breathing, more than 60 breaths per minute, grunting sounds when the baby exhales, flaring nostrils and bluish color around the baby's mouth and nose.
BPD is usually diagnosed if your infant still requires additional oxygen after 28 days of age. Chest X-rays help in making the diagnosis.
Asthma symptoms include coughing at night, wheezing and any other breathing problems. Some asthma symptoms include breathing problems around pets or dust, around smoking and in a cold environment.
Infants born with CF do not gain weight as expected and may be born with meconium ileus, causing a blockage of the intestines. CF may result in nasal congestion, wheezing, sinus problems and asthma-like symptoms.
Risk Factors
Newborns are at higher risk of TTN if the baby is delivered by cesarean section, born to mothers with diabetes or asthma, or is small at birth.
Premature infants are at highest risk for BPD. Other conditions such as trauma, pneumonia and other infections may also put your child at risk for BPD.
A child is more likely to develop asthma if the child's parents have allergies or asthma.
According to KidsHealth, 1 of every 3,600 Caucasian children are born with cystic fibrosis. The highest inherited risk factor for CF is in Caucasians.
Treatment
Newborns born with TTN are sometimes admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit for extra care. They will have their heart rate, breathing rate and oxygen levels monitored. Some newborns may need extra oxygen. According to KidsHealth, infants with TTN usually improve and their breathing returns to normal within 24 to 48 hours.
Medical treatment cannot cure BPD. Treatment is used to help breathing and oxygen levels of infants. Your infant may also receive albuterol and furosemide to help support lung function. Many babies with BPD will recover normal lung function, although it may take time.
Asthma treatment includes medication inhaled directly to the lungs with a nebulizer. However, many times an infant will outgrow the wheezing and won't develop asthma once he's older.
While there is no cure for cystic fibrosis, treatments for CF include pulmonary therapy, nutritional therapy, mucus-thinning drugs, antibiotics and brochodilators.
Considerations
Infant lung problems are common in premature babies. Other infants will most likely have some sort of lung problem within their first year of life. These are commonly not life-threatening, but if you infant is having trouble breathing or breathing rapidly, you should contact your doctor immediately.
