Contact your toddler's pediatrician immediately if you suspect he has pneumonia. Pneumonia symptoms include fever, cough, chills, rapid breathing, nasal flaring, chest pain, wheezing and nasal congestion. In severe cases, your toddler's...
The H1N1 influenza virus is the virus responsible for the swine flu. The H1N1 influenza virus primarily affects young people, children and infants. Infants are particularly vulnerable because they have never been exposed to similar viruses and...
Asthma is a disease of chronic inflammation of the lungs. The muscles surrounding the airways become inflamed as a result of different triggers, like colds and allergies, causing airway narrowing and production of cellular debris in the lumen of...
Mold is a type of fungus that releases spores into the air and grows everywhere. Mold can cause respiratory problems, or problems in the lungs, when spores are breathed in. Molds grow best in a moist atmosphere with warm temperatures and decreased...
Although people who have asthma rely on long-term medication to prevent asthma attacks, quick-relief medicines relax tight muscles around the airways during sudden flare-ups, the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute explains. The medicine...
Women who are addicted to heroin are often given methadone, a synthetic narcotic, to take instead of heroin. Methadone withdrawal is probably the most common withdrawal seen in newborns, according to Marvin Wang, M.D. Mothers who take methadone...
A virus refers to a tiny infectious particle that can invade the body via the nose and mouth. Certain viruses can also pass via sexual intercourse. Viruses multiply in the body and can create such symptoms as fever, cough, nasal congestion and...
Respiration, or breathing rate, in children is one measurement of cardiovascular health. By assessing how many breaths a child takes per minute, you can infer how well her lungs are working to deliver oxygen to the body. The normal rate of...
Shallow breathing can be an alarming and potentially life-threatening symptom if left untreated. People who develop shallow breathing can generally develop wheezing and blue skin (cyanosis). Sometimes, shallow breathing can be due to fluid...
The lungs are spongy, paired organs located deep within the chest and are responsible for respiration. Sometimes the airways can tighten or mucus can fill these airways. In some instances, a bacteria can infiltrate the lungs and lead to a very...
Lung cancer is often diagnosed after the disease has already progressed. Because of this, only about 14 percent of lung cancer patients have a five-year survival rate. Initial symptoms of lung cancer are vague. People often are not aware they are...
Sneezing, nasal congestion, postnasal drip and skin rashes are all signs of allergies that can be triggered by environmental pollen, certain foods, insect bites, certain medications and substances such as latex. Sometimes, allergic reactions can...
Asthma is a condition of chronic inflammation of the airways in the lungs. It is a common childhood condition; according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, asthma affects close to 10 percent of all children in the United States. It...
Asthma is respiratory condition that affects both children and adults. Asthma causes inflammation of the airway, making it hard to breath. A person with asthma may find certain triggers, such as dust or environmental allergies, make asthma...
Asthma is a chronic lung disease that causes inflammation and narrowing of the airways. When an asthma attack occurs, airway muscles become tight, and the lining of the airways swell, which reduces the amount of air that passes into the lungs....
Abnormal breathing in infants can be a scary situation for parents. An infant can experience several different types of heavy breathing that can range in severity from mild to severe. The breathing can be accompanied by a combination of other...
Life with a newborn baby would be less stressful if babies came with an instruction manual. Many new parents don't know when to take a newborn to the emergency room -- or to the doctor's office, for that matter. When you have a sick baby, every...
When your baby has breathing difficulty, she might be short of breath, unable to take a deep breath, gasping for air, or feel like she is not getting enough air. Do not give her anything to eat or drink, move her unnecessarily, put a pillow under...
Maternal drug abuse with legal or illegal drugs has continued to rise over time. All drugs of abuse reach the fetus during pregnancy. Once the umbilical cord is cut in the delivery room, the baby must be closely monitored for signs of withdrawal....
Meconium aspiration is a common complication of childbirth in a newborn. Meconium is the first stool passed by a newborn; it's dark green, very sticky and thick. If a baby is stressed in utero, even for a short time, meconium may be passed into...
Pulmonary Edema or abnormal accumulation of liquid in the lungs is a serious condition because it affects breathing; and may lead to death. As fluid fills into the lungs, the tiny alveoli sacs responsible for oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange...
Many diseases in infants can lead to an enlarged heart, also known as cardiac hypertrophy. Congenital defects, acquired cardiac problems that occur right after birth and maternal diseases such as diabetes can cause enlarged hearts. The right or...
Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs that causes heavy breathing, a fever and vomiting. Young infants are at high risk for pneumonia; if the infection is left untreated, complications can arise, such as acute respiratory distress syndrome....
Bringing home a newborn baby from the hospital is an exciting and somewhat worrisome experience. Parents tend to worry about every detail of their infant's health, especially their breathing pattern. Newborn babies breathe heavily and noisily for...
Newborn babies often have irregular sleep and breathing patterns that distress their parents. In most cases, grunts and other noises are harmless. However, they can indicate a more serious condition. It's important to know the causes and signs so...
Due to concerns about sudden infant death syndrome, parents often watch their baby's breathing patterns carefully. Although it can be alarming for parents to observe, shallow, rapid breathing occurs commonly in newborns, and especially in...
Crackles in the lungs, most often described as a “popping” sound, originate in the airway. The crackling noise comes from a blocked airway that opens suddenly, which causes the sound to reverberate through the airway. Crackles are...
Your child’s alarm goes off for school and all you hear is a cough echoing from his bedroom as he gets ready. Coughs are a common childhood symptom that have several underlying causes. Asthma, gastroesophageal reflux and several viral...
The levator labii superioris is a facial muscle extending from the bottom of your eyes to the edges of your lips. The muscle is a flat sheet that is composed of two independent parts. The lateral part controls movement in the upper lip while the...
