Difficulty Breathing in a Child

Identify the following conditions requiring immediate treatment: foreign body in the respiratory tract epiglottitis imminent exhaustion of the child due to hypoxia and/or increased respiratory workload. Differentiate between laryngitis, obstructive bronchitis or asthma (difficulty in inspiration and expiration), and the typical pneumonia-induced difficulty breathing with increased respiratory rate. Treat acute obstructive bronchitis with inhaled salbutamol. Refer the child to hospital always when oxygenation of the child is insufficient (= 92%) or if breathing difficulties continue after initial treatment. Difficulty breathing in an infant should usually be assessed by a paediatrician and followed up in a hospital.