The breathing process for infants is similar to that of adults, but infants have physical differences that affect their respiratory process. Because infant airways are smaller than those of adults, obstruction occurs more frequently from mucous or...
During the first several months of life, many babies experience mild, transient changes in the pace and depth of breathing. According to Dr. William Sears, a renowned pediatrician, rapid breathing and panting are extremely common in newborns and...
Breathing is usually automatic and regular. Breathing frequency responds to activity level, with breath slow and deep during sleep and rapid during exercise. When the breathing pattern does not match the active state, that can indicate a problem.
Babies can experience symptoms of rapid breathing for a number of reasons. When your baby experiences abnormal breathing difficulties, it's best to have her pediatrician examine her to determine the exact cause as to why she's breathing rapidly to...
Varicella is commonly known as chicken pox, and varicella pneumonia is a rare, but serious complication of this infection. According to the "European Respiratory Journal," varicella pneumonia more commonly affects adults with chicken pox, rather...
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...
A diaphragmatic hernia can occur in a newborn baby as a birth defect. It means, essentially, there is a hole in the breathing mechanism known as the diaphragm. The hole or hernia allows other organs in the baby's abdominal area from rising toward...
Rapid breathing, often described as panting, is quite common in newborns. When no other symptoms are present--and rapid breathing comes and goes and the baby appears otherwise healthy and comfortable--there's usually no cause for concern. However,...
Increased respiratory rate is one of the most obvious adaptations you make to meet the demands of exercise. The rate of blood flow and gas exchange throughout the pulmonary system will increase during exercise to supply sufficient amounts of...
Pulse and respiration are two of the body's four vital signs. The other vital signs are body temperature and blood pressure. Vital signs measure the body's functions and doctors and nurses take these measurements to help assess your physical...
There are many reasons for a c-section, including a baby who is too big to fit through the vagina safely, slow labor, an infection like HIV, or fetal distress. Unfortunately, certain health risks are associated with the surgical procedure and...
Babies who have breathing problems exhibit certain symptoms that show they are in distress. The normal rate of respirations for a newborn is between 40 and 60 breaths per minute, although this may slow when a baby is sleeping or may be faster if...
Children naturally breathe at a faster rate than adults. According to the National Institutes of Health, adults generally breathe 8 to 16 times per minute, while normal newborns may breathe up to once per second. In children, rapid breathing can...
Most heart disease in children falls in two categories: congenital heart disease and arrhythmias. Children with congenital heart disease are born with anatomical defects of the heart. Arrhythmias are abnormalities in the heart rhythm that can...
Energy drinks are popular in today's fast-paced world. These drinks seem to be everywhere. While they may make consumers feel more energetic and yield the short-term results that were sought, they may have negative effects on health. Being aware...
Candida is a type of yeast that sometimes causes fungal infections in humans. Healthy people typically have low levels of Candida living in their bodies, and the fungi only starts growing out of control when a person's immune system becomes...
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...
Septic shock causes approximately 215,000 deaths every year in America, according to Joseph Parrillo, M.D., writing in the New England Journal of Medicine. This is approximately the same number of people who die every year from an acute myocardial...
A cesarean section, commonly referred to as a C-section, is performed when a vaginal birth is considered not safe or possible for the mother or child. A surgical incision is made in the lower abdomen, enabling delivery of the baby. A C-section is...
Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs. According to the Children's Hospital Boston, pneumonia tends to occur more during the winter and spring, and is more common in boys than girls. The most common causes of pneumonia in children are bacteria,...
Pneumocystis pneumonia is caused by Pneumocystis jirovecii, a fungus that is commonly found in the soil. Pneumocystis jirovecii used to be called Pneumocystis carinii, but the taxonomy was changed. The new taxonomy differentiates between...
Pneumonia, a serious infection of the lung, is a common health condition among the elderly, and the Centers for Disease Control indicates that it is a leading cause of death for individuals over 65 years of age. The symptoms of pneumonia can vary...
Chlamydia pneumoniae is a common species of bacteria of the Chlamydia genus. Approximately 50 percent of Americans aged 20 and older have experienced a Chlamydia pneumoniae infection, and reinfection later in life seems common, notes the Centers...
The interstitium is the tissue surrounding the lung's air sacs, or alveoli. In interstitial pneumonia, those tissues are inflamed and eventually become scarred or stiff, impeding the normal expansion of the alveoli. There are two groups of...
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...
Pregnant women who use drugs during their pregnancy pass the drugs along to the baby through the placenta. At birth, the baby may experience drug withdrawal depending on the amount of drug the mother used and when she last took it. The American...
As of 2009, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Klebsiella pneumoniae is considered to be a danger to patients when they are in the hospital. The bacterium has the potential to cause several types of infections. More...
Metabolic acidosis is an increase in acid in the body from ingestion of an acid or a substance that is known to breakdown or metabolize to an acid. Metabolic acidosis also occurs in severe conditions where there is inadequate oxygen delivery to...
Green tea is an herbal beverage made from the Camellia sinensis plant that contains useful biological compounds called polyphenols. The numerous health benefits of green tea are largely due to its high content of polyphenols. It has been used for...