Definition
- Wheezing is a high-pitched purring or whistling sound
- You can hear it best when your child is breathing out
- Use this guide only if your child has not been diagnosed with asthma
First Aid Advice for Anaphylaxis – Epinephrine
- Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening allergic reaction.
- If you have epinephrine (such as Epi-pen), give it now.
- Do this while calling 911.
- Over 66 pounds (30 kg): Give 0.3 mg. Epi-Pen.
- 33-66 pound (15-30 kg): Give 0.15 mg. Epi-Pen Jr.
- Less than 33 pounds (15 kg): Give dose advised by your doctor.
- Give the shot into the upper outer thigh in the leg straight down.
- Can be given through clothing if needed.
- Benadryl: After giving the Epi-pen, give Benadryl by mouth. Do this if your child is able to swallow.
Causes
- Main cause in the first 2 years of life: Bronchiolitis (peaks at 6-12 months). This is a viral infection (usually RSV) of the small airways. These small airways are called bronchioles.
- Main cause after age 2: The first attack of asthma.
Return to Child Care or School
- Your child can return to child care after the wheezing and fever are gone.
When to Call Us for Wheezing (Other Than Asthma)
Call 911 Now If: Click to View
Call 911 Now (your child may need an ambulance) If:
- Starts to wheeze suddenly after bee sting, taking allergic food or medicine
- Severe trouble breathing (struggling for each breath, very tight wheezing, can barely cry)
- Passed out or stopped breathing
- Bluish lips or face
- Recently choked on a small object or food
- You think your child has a life-threatening emergency
- You think your child has a life-threatening emergency
Call Us Now (night or day) If:
- Wheezing, but none of the symptoms above. (Reason: Needs a doctor’s exam.)
Care Advice for for Mild Weezing (Use this until you talk with your doctor)
What You Should Know:
- Wheezing is a high-pitched purring sound.
- Wheezing means the lower airway is tight.
- This is often part of a cold, but it can become worse.
- Here is some care advice that should help until you talk with your doctor.
Coughing Fits or Spells:
- Breathe warm mist (such as with shower running in a closed bathroom). Give warm clear fluids to drink. Examples are apple juice and lemonade. Don’t use before 3 months of age.
- Amount. If 3 – 12 months of age, give 1 ounce (30 ml) each time. Limit to 4 times per day. If over 1 year of age, give as much as needed.
- Reason: Both relax the airway and loosen up any phlegm.
Homemade Cough Medicine:
- Do not give any over-the-counter cough medicine to children with wheezing. Instead, treat the cough using the these tips:
- AGE 3 months to 1 year: Give warm clear fluids to treat the cough. Examples are apple juice and lemonade.
- Amount: Use a dose of 1-3 teaspoons (5-15 ml). Give 4 times per day when coughing. Caution: Do not use honey until 1 year old.
- AGE 1 year and older: Use HONEY ½ to 1 teaspoon (2-5 ml) as needed. It works as a homemade cough medicine. It can thin the secretions and loosen the cough. If you don’t have any honey, you can use corn syrup.
Nasal Washes To Open a Blocked Nose:
- Use saline nose drops or spray to loosen up the dried mucus. If you don’t have saline, you can use warm tap water.
- STEP 1: Put 3 drops in each nostril. (If age under 1 year old, use 1 drop. Also, do 1 side at a time.)
- STEP 2: Blow (or suction) each nostril out while closing off the other nostril. Then, do the other side.
- STEP 3: Repeat nose drops and blowing (or suctioning) until the discharge is clear.
- How often: Do nasal washes when your child can’t breathe through the nose. Limit: No more than 4 times per day.
- Saline nose drops or spray can be bought in any drugstore. No prescription is needed.
- Saline nose drops can also be made at home. Use 1/2 teaspoon (2 ml) of table salt. Stir the salt into 1 cup (8 ounces or 240 ml) of warm water.
- Reason for nose drops: Suction or blowing alone can’t remove dried or sticky mucus. Also, babies can’t nurse or drink from a bottle unless the nose is open.
- Other option: use a warm shower to loosen mucus. Breathe in the moist air, then blow each nostril.
- For young children, can also use a wet cotton swab to remove sticky mucus.
Humidifier:
- If the air in your home is dry, use a humidifier. Reason: Dry air makes coughs worse.
Smaller Feedings:
- Use small, frequent feedings whenever your child has the energy to drink.
- Reason: Children with wheezing don’t have enough energy for long feedings.
Avoid Tobacco Smoke:
- Tobacco smoke makes coughs and wheezing much worse.
Return to School:
- Your child can return to child care after the wheezing and fever are gone.
Call Your Doctor If:
- Trouble breathing gets worse
- Wheezing gets worse
- Your child becomes worse