s/o cough..

Re: s/o cough..

• Taytee

  January 2012

  You need to worry about a cough if they are showing signs of respiratory distress (RD) or if they cough so much they aren't sleeping or puking ALL the time. There is no cure for RSV or Croup. Only symptom managment.

  Signs of RD (edited from multiple online resources)

  You should take your child into an ER right away if:
   ? Your child has severe wheezing that is causing him significant difficulty breathing. Your child looks like they can't breathe. The assesment of a child can be done without even taking vital signs. Appearance, Work of Breathing and Circulation to skin.

  
  ? Retractions - When looking at the chest of a child with retractions, you may noticed a skeletal appearance. The skin pulls in and out between each rib with each breath and you may be able to "count ribs." This also happens below the ribcage and in severe cases above the clavicles

  ? Your child's lips or mouth are turning blue due to labored breathing or shortness of breath. Their fingernails may also turn blue in severe cases.

  
  ? Your child's breathing is rapid and labored. Count the number of breaths he takes in 30 seconds, multiply it by two, and this gives you his breaths per minute. Go to the ER right away if the breaths are greater than 60 per minute for children under a year, greater than 50 for children 1 through 4, and greater than 40 for children 5 and older. Be aware that fever alone can cause rapid breathing (and a rapid heartbeat). Reduce the fever first and then evaluate your child's breathing.
   
  Above all, if you are not certain about the status of your child's breathing, and feel he is in urgent need of an immediate medical decision, then call your doctor.

  

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