The respiratory process is a complex system of breathing in and out: bringing in oxygen and eliminating carbon dioxide from the body. An infant takes in air through the mouth and nose, which then enters one of two lungs. Each lung is filled with alveoli, which are tiny chambers with thin membranes. The alveoli exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide molecules with the nearby capillaries. This allows oxygen to enter the bloodstream and travel to all the tissues in the body.
Significance
In some babies, breathing may become difficult when the airways become inflamed or lose elasticity due to illness. This causes the airways to constrict, reducing how much air can get into the lungs. Breathing treatments provide medicine to decrease inflammation and relax the muscles of the airway, increasing the flexibility of lung tissue to promote oxygen intake.
Bronchiolitis
Bronchiolitis is a viral condition that causes a baby's airways to swell and become plugged with mucous. According to the Children's Hospital of Denver, bronchiolitis is responsible for over 100,000 infant hospital admissions every year. Bronchiolitis causes nasal congestion, cough and fever, and can lead to breathing difficulties if left untreated. Breathing treatments may be given to reduce inflammation of the airways and to decrease symptoms.
RDS
Respiratory distress syndrome, or RDS, occurs among babies who are born prematurely and lack the protein surfactant in the lungs, as stated by Medline Plus. Surfactant makes the breathing process smoother for babies, allowing greater oxygen exchange. Babies with RDS may have wheezing, grunting or flaring of the nostrils while breathing; they may need extra oxygen . A physician may prescribe a breathing treatment for a baby with RDS if she is working hard to breathe. This can relax the muscles of the airway so she does not use as much energy to gain oxygen.
Nebulizer
Breathing treatments are administered to babies by use of a nebulizer, which allows a baby to passively breathe in medication. Respiratory medicines are put into the nebulizer in liquid form and are connected to an air compressor. The compressor provides high-pressure air that mixes with the medication to form a mist. This travels through tubing connected to a mask that can be placed over a baby's face.
Effectiveness
Health care providers can monitor the effectiveness of breathing treatments by lab tests such as a blood gas analysis, which shows the concentration of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the bloodstream. A baby may also be connected to a pulse oximeter, which reads the saturation of oxygen in the blood.
