Symptoms of Chronic Lung Disease

How to Tell if a Baby May Have CLD

Jun 9, 2009 Emily Retherford

Chronic Lung Disease can lead respiratory distress knowing the signs could potentially save a baby's life.

Chronic lung disease is a condition that appears in newborn babies that causes breathing problems and/or health issues. The baby's lungs may trap air, collapse, produce extra mucus or fill with fluid. Most likely, babies who have chronic lung disease will survive and can even outgrow their lung problems. The most common cause of chronic lung disease is premature birth. Symptoms of the disease can appear as early as three days after the birth of the child.

Grunts or Breathes Rapidly

A baby that has chronic lung disease may make weird grunting noises while trying to breathe. Babies often make grunting and growling noises occasionally, but this symptom of grunting in chronic lung disease would be repeated frequently and accompanied by shallow, rapid breaths. These are both signs that a baby is holding in air to try to raise her oxygen level. When this happens the baby may also moan or sigh when exhaling.

Flares Nostrils

When a baby breathes normally, his nostrils usually stay the same size. Flaring the nostrils means that the nostrils are widening each time the baby inhales air. This normally happens if the baby isn't getting enough oxygen as he is inhaling. The nostrils flare because the baby is trying to pull in as much air as possible with each breath.

Chest Retracting

A baby uses her diaphragm (the large muscle under the lungs) to breathe. While the diaphragm is located in the chest, when the baby is breathing normally her chest doesn't completely retract. However, when a baby has trouble breathing one may notice the chest retracting. This will seem like the baby is "pulling in" the chest at the ribs, under the breastbone and/or above the collarbones. One may also notice the top of the stomach caving in when the baby is inhaling.

Wheezing

The action of wheezing is simply gasping for breath. For wheezing to occur, there has to be some part of the respiratory system that is obstructed or narrowed. When a baby wheezes the sound she makes will be a continuous coarse whistling sound.

Tires Easily After Eating

A baby may seem extremely tired after eating if he is having breathing problems. The sucking action babies need to eat already limits the oxygen intake and for a baby that is having trouble breathing, this can be very tiring. One may also notice the baby release the bottle or nipple long enough to gasp for air or take a few rapid breaths.

Blue Coloring

With a baby who has chronic lung syndrome, one may notice a general blue tint to the baby's skin (Cyanosis). This is an indicator that the baby is not getting enough oxygen. The blue coloring is normally tinted on the skin and can sometimes look more gray than blue. While this symptom is seen in babies with respiratory problems, it's also a symptom that is seen in babies with heart defects.

The copyright of the article Symptoms of Chronic Lung Disease in General Medicine is owned by Emily Retherford. Permission to republish Symptoms of Chronic Lung Disease in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Baby Kaya