Breathing Problems in Infant. Asthma? Croup?

Updated on August 26, 2011
K.L. asks from Fort Stewart, GA
7 answers

I am waiting for a nurse to call me back so I thought I would ask on here as well. My9 month old+ son has a cold and he woke up from his nap breathing with a high pitched squeak when he breaths in. It has since stopped but it did last for a few minutes while I tried to calm his breathing down. I know that a sound like that is associated with croup, however my son does not have a barking cough (he does cough a little at night and in the morning). He does have a very stuffy nose as well. I have been using the aspirator, saline solution, a humidifier, and inclined mattress. The only thing I could find about breathing like this is croup, but I have never heard of croup without a cough. Also, I have asthma, which makes me more concerned, but wheezing in asthma is usually when you are breathing out, not in. Has anyone experienced something like this? What was it? How did you treat the symptoms? Any information is greatly appreciated

Edited to add: The high pitched squeak is coming from his mouth, not his nose.

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So What Happened?

I was called back, and the suggestion was to keep an eye on him and take him to emergency if it happens again. This is because he is back to his normal self right now and infants in respiratory distress would take a long time to return to normal. We actually have an inhaler that was prescribed to him when he had a serious cough and chest congestion, and I was also told to use that every 4-6 hours. If he starts to have symptoms of breathing difficulty even while on the inhaler, I need to take him into the ER. Or call 911 if it is severe enough. If his cough worsens without anymore breathing difficulties, than I can bring him in to their office on Monday.

More Answers

G.M.

answers from Phoenix on

Yes you can experience wheezing while breathing in. When my son had croup, one of his symptoms was "strider"....that's when he was wheezing and it was associated with the croup cough and it is a dangerous symptom that can lead to hospitalization. I don't want to scare you, I'm just saying that's what happened with my son. In order to help open him up, the nurse may advise you to come in to the pedi's office to have your little one checked. It sounds from your description that he really needs to be seen by the doc. The doc may give you what's called a 'nebulizer' with some meds to use with it in order to help your son breath. The nebulizer really helped my son when he was real sick.
I hope he feels better. Right now what you're doing at home is great, but you may need the additional help with a nebulizer. Ask your pedi about this ok. :-) Hope this helps.

3 moms found this helpful

C.P.

answers from Columbia on

Remember, babies have a hard time breathing through thier mouths. Start with getting the nose unstopped competely. IT might also just be dried boogers making a little noise...you know "nose whistle?" ;o) I'm sure we've all had it when we wake up at night...or is it just me?

2 moms found this helpful
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S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

My guess is: Croup.
Or Asthma. I have Asthma.

My son had that.

You will have to take your baby in to the Doctor. He is so young.

DO NOT treat him on your own!
He is a young baby.
Do not guess, at what to give him.
He is so young and CANNOT take OTC meds.
Their organs are not even fully developed yet.... and if you give him some OTC med, and not know about dosages, you can overload his kidneys, for example.

Take him to the Doctor.
Follow the directions of the Doctor.
Don't just go according to a phone call by a Nurse.
SEE the Doctor and go to the office.... and get a proper, Diagnosis.

1 mom found this helpful
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H.D.

answers from Dallas on

Babies can have croup without a cough, my SIL just last week rushed her baby to the ER because his throat had swollen up so much he couldn't breathe. He had no cough. However, I'd have your baby tested for RSV, my baby contracted RSV and it can cause their breathing to sound funny when they breathe in. I personally would ignore the nurse, take the child in before the weekend and have him swabbed to test for RSV. But this is just my own paranoid mommy advice:)

1 mom found this helpful
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G.S.

answers from New York on

When my youngest had croup she honestly sounded like a seal! The e/r dr told us to put her in the bathroom w/the door closed & run the hot water w/the shower on, that usually clears it or stand infront of the freezer w/the door open. But honestly, with a child that young, I'd go get checked out, my daughter was about 3 & it was scary enough. Best of luck to you :)

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M.L.

answers from Tampa on

Has he been tested for RSV? My daughter had it (twice!) and both times was wheezing with it. She never really coughed a whole lot. RSV testing is just a swab of their booger-y nose.

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M.B.

answers from Austin on

One thing to look for..... since you have asthma, you might be familiar with "retracting" ... that is where the skin around their rib cage sucks in when they are breathing, or the little hollow in their throat sucks in when they are breathing.

That is common in asthma, and can really indicate a problem.

My grandson was having breathing problems (4-4 1/2 months old), and his M. has asthma.... there was a "squeak" when he was coughing... when she got him to the doctor that evening, they ended up giving him two breathing treatments at the office, then transported him to the local children's hospital, where he had a third breathing treatment (nebulizer with albuterol). They kept him overnight for observation (he was fine), and he got a nebulizer shortly after. It wasn't RSV or influenza....

He is now almost 4, and rarely uses the nebulizer.

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