Since the first written description of asthma appeared in Homer's "Iliad," scientists have been trying to describe the shortness of breath you feel during exercise to improve treatment for this disease. Early physicians were unable to visualize...
It is only when a person cannot breathe that they become acutely aware of the function of breathing. Although a person can consciously alter the rate and depth of breathing, the actual control center is in the lower part of the brain stem. Nerve...
Normal breathing is the inhalation of oxygen and exhalation of carbon dioxide. All systems of the body depend on the airway structure working properly to provide an adequate supply of oxygenated blood. Breathing becomes difficult when there is an...
Wheezing is a type of breathing difficulty that creates a shrill whistling sound due to narrowing of the airways. It can be a symptom of respiratory disease, including asthma, emphysema or chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder. If wheezing...
The raspy, wheezing that your child makes, that unmistakable sound called stridor, is probably the most alarming symptom of laryngeotracheobronchitis, commonly called croup. Croup is also characterized by a cough that makes your child sound like a...
The barking-type cough coming from your infant can be scary, but is a common ailment. The dry, seal-like sound your baby makes means he has croup, a viral illness most often seen in children between the ages of 6 months and 3 years. Croup may have...
Few things scare a parent more than a baby with breathing issues. Croup, with its characteristic barking cough leads to more than $56 million in annual health care costs in the United States, according to a 2004 report published in "American...
A thoracic aortic aneurysm is an aneurysm that occurs in the body's largest artery, the aorta. When a part of an artery abnormally widens due to a weakness in the wall of the blood vessel, it is referred to as an aneurysm. MedlinePlus states that...
Coughing is a common, natural way to clear the throat and chest. It is also a common sign in childhood illnesses. Coughing is exhibited in a number of ways and equally has a number of reasons. Usually it accompanies a virus such as the common cold...
Noisy breathing in infants can be very worrisome for parents. While most noisy breathing can be chalked up to a runny nose or some other temporary condition, persistent noisy breathing merits further evaluation. Once the underlying cause is...
Croup, also called acute laryngotracheobronchitis, is a common upper airway infection in children. Croup can vary in severity from a mild cough to a severe obstruction of the airway. Treatment for croup depends on the severity and can range from...
Nothing can cause a parent's immediate alert response in the middle of the night like the distinct sound of a croupy cough. The dry, barking, seal-like noise is the result of swollen vocal cords. It may be accompanied by fever, a raspy breathing...
Wheezing is the high-pitched sound you hear when someone's airways are swollen or blocked. Your infant may wheeze for a variety of reasons--mucus or milk may linger in the throat, a virus may inflame the throat tissues, or he may be more...
A bark-like cough in a child is a symptom of croup, a condition characterized by inflammation of the trachea and larynx. The condition most commonly affects children between the ages of six months and three years. Although croup can be alarming to...
Few methods assist the physician make a differential diagnosis better than listening with a stethoscope, a skill known as auscultation. According to Modern Medicine, mastering auscultation takes time but is well worth the effort. Infants pose a...
Breathing problems in babies are very alarming to parents. In most cases, noisy or raspy breathing is harmless and not a sign of a serious medical condition. However, sometimes raspy breathing may be caused by a serious or life-threatening...
The swine flu, or H1N1, is an influenza virus. It occurs year-round, although most cases occur from late fall to early spring. It is transmitted from person to person by aerosolized droplets when coughing or sneezing. Swine flu tends to affect...
Your child will develop severe symptoms that include malaise, a high body temperature, chills and sweats when tracheitis begins. Mostly preschool-aged children are affected by this windpipe infection, since kids in this age group have smaller...
Croup is a common problem seen with children, especially babies and toddlers. Croup is a viral infection that causes inflammation in the respiratory system. Common viruses responsible for this infection include parainfluenza or respiratory...
In January 2008, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, in concert with the American Academy of Pediatrics, advised that over-the-counter cold medications not be given to children younger than 2 because of the risk of life-threatening side...
The incidence of childhood asthma has increased steadily over the past 20 to 30 years. In addition, more and more infants are being identified as having asthma. Although asthma symptoms in adults are fairly straightforward, symptoms in infants...
Haemophilus influenza type B is a bacterium that inhabits the upper respiratory tract of humans. It is spread by person-to-person contact of respiratory secretions. Widespread vaccination against this bacterium has reduced the incidence of...
H1N1 influenza, or the swine flu, is a novel influenza virus. The virus circulates during the year, with increased prevalence during the winter months. It is transmitted from person to person via airborne droplets from coughs or sneezes. But...
If your child is struggling with a severe cough, it can be worrisome. Contact the doctor immediately if your child's breathing causes a high-pitched noise, called stridor, as this may be a symptom of croup, which needs medical attention before you...
The larynx, commonly known as the voice box, sits in the front of the neck. It is made up of an intricate system of muscles, cartilages, and tissues. The larynx is important for voice production, breathing and swallowing. It has three levels:...
Wheezing is a high-pitched, squeaking, whistling sound that is caused by airflow through narrowed smaller airways. Many people associate wheezing with asthma. Asthma is one of the most common diseases that produces wheezing, but there are other...
Human parainfluenza virus is a common virus that causes a number of infections, inlcuding the common cold, in infants and children, as well as in those with compromised immune systems. The virus is transmitted from person to person by exposure to...
Croup is a condition that usually starts as a virus then leads to inflammation of your child's upper airways. This swelling of the voice box and windpipe causes a barking cough and hoarseness that may alarm you. Knowing the common symptoms of...
Nitric oxide is a gas that the body creates naturally. Nitric oxide is composed of one atom of nitrogen bonded to one atom of oxygen, with the chemical formula NO. This molecule contains an unpaired electron, making it a free radical. Its role...
Wheezing is continued coarse or troubled breathing often associated with a lung disease. Learn about wheezing in this respiratory health video.
Anaphylaxis is a reaction to an allergen or foreign body, usually food, bug bites or stings or a medication. Anaphylaxis can cause a rash, trouble breathing, wheezing and nausea. Learn more about the symptoms and treatments for anaphylaxis in...
