Can Viral Infections Lead To Wheezing in Kids?

When we think about wheezing in kids, it mainly bothers their parents more than them. Simply, now your child will be playing joyfully, and the next minute they will have trouble breathing, along with that whistling sound. Have you ever thought that wheezing could be the result of a viral infection? Further, let’s dive into this blog to know more about the connection between viral infections and wheezing in kids.

What is wheezing?

Wheezing is a whistle-like sound heard when an individual breathes out, and also at times when they breathe in. This occurs when your airways are narrowed or blocked, making it tough for air to move freely through the lungs.

But when it comes to kids, wheezing can occur due to various reasons, but the viral infection is the actual culprit. Kids’ respiratory systems are more sensitive, so there are more vulnerable to this. Whenever you feel like your child’s wheezing is getting worse consider getting child wheezing treatment in Coimbatore and potentially safeguard their health.

What are the common types of viral infections in children?

Viral infection stands as a common cause of illness among kids, ranging from mild to severe infections that affect breathing. Further, let’s see some of the usual suspects:

– Common cold: We may ignore the everyday cold, but when it comes to kids, it may lead to complications such as wheezing, notably when mucus builds up in the airways.

– Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV): RSV negatively affects the young population, it can also result in bronchiolitis, a condition that often causes wheezing in babies.

– Influenza: Kids may find it difficult to live a normal life during flu seasons. The flu virus doesn’t just stop by causing fever and fatigue, it will inflame the airways and result in wheezing.

How do viral infections affect the respiratory tract?

Mostly, kids’ respiratory systems will be underdeveloped, so they are more prone to the effects of viral infections. When a virus invades the respiratory tract, it may cause several health effects like inflammation, mucus production, and narrowing of the airways, resulting in wheezing.

What are the symptoms of viral infections?

Based on the type of virus and where it affects your body will determine the viral infection symptoms. Further, symptoms include:

• Flu-like symptoms: Fever, body pain, headache, and fatigue.
• Upper respiratory symptoms: Sneezing, sore throat, nasal congestion, runny nose, post-nasal drip, coughing, and wheezing.
• Digestive issues: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, bloating, loss of appetite.
• Skin conditions: Rashes, blisters, sores, and warts.

Also, several viral infections don’t cause symptoms, so viral infections are not so serious and mostly go away on their own in a few days.

Can viral infections cause wheezing?

The direct answer is, that viral infections have the potential to cause wheezing in kids, notably kids under the age of five are more prone to this. Even whenever the airways become inflamed or blocked by mucus due to the infection, the child may start to wheeze. It’s like trying to blow through a straw that’s partially blocked, eventually, the air will struggle to get through, and you will hear that whistling sound.

What are the common viral infections that cause wheezing?

– Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and wheezing: The younger population is more vulnerable to RSV, further, it stands as a primary cause of bronchiolitis, your small airways in the lungs will be inflamed and frequently cause wheezing. Typically, the effects will be long-lasting, at times it may lead to recurrent wheezing even when the primary infection is gone.

– Human rhinovirus (HRV) and wheezing: Human Rhinovirus, triggers the common cold, further can lead to wheezing, notably among kids with sensitive airways. In kids with already existing respiratory problems or those prone to asthma, even a mild cold can lead to wheezing.

– Influenza and wheezing: This flu will badly inflame your lungs, which results in wheezing. This mainly affects the children, notably if they already have a history of asthma or respiratory problems.

– COVID-19 and wheezing in kids: COVID-19 brought wheezing among the pediatric population to the limelight. Also, not every kid with COVID-19 will go through wheezing, further, those with underlying conditions or weakened immune systems are at a higher risk.

When parents should be worried about wheezing?

Just remember that always you need to panic about wheezing, but it’s crucial to know when to be concerned. When the wheezing persists along with labored breathing or your kid’s lips are turned blue, get medical help immediately.

What are the diagnostic and treatment options for wheezing?

Diagnosis:

Doctors employ holistic medical approaches like medical history, physical examination, and diagnostic tools such as chest X-rays or lung function tests to diagnose the cause of wheezing. In case of viral infections, testing will be done to diagnose the particular viruses.

Treatment:

Based on the cause of the wheezing the treatment will be catered, this treatment includes medications, home remedies, and other measures:

• Medications: For asthma, doctors will prescribe medications or inhalers to help keep airways open.
• Home remedies: In case, the wheezing is caused by the flu or cold, you can try these home remedies, frequently use a humidifier or take a steamy shower, consume warm waters to loosen your mucus, avoid cold and dry air, try to get sufficient rest, and consider doing breathing exercises.
• Other measures: In case, you have persistent wheezing, avoid keeping pets.

If your wheezing is accompanied by other issues like difficulty breathing, fast breathing, a bluish tinge to the skin, or inflammation in the face or lips, it requires timely medical care, so consider visiting the best child hospital in Coimbatore, to get timely treatment and desired outcomes.

Final thoughts:

In conclusion, we can say that viral infection and wheezing overlap with each other, and will highly affect the kids, but with appropriate care and preventive measures, parents can reduce their kid’s frequency and severity of these episodes. Timely diagnosis and holistic treatment and care can make a huge difference in ensuring your child breathes effortlessly and stays healthy.