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What Causes Shortness Of Breath In Children When At Rest?
Question: My Daughter (8) is highly energetic and never seems unusually short of breath when active. I mean swimming for hours, she does dance classes, and runs around like crazy with no problem. Periodically when at rest she complains she cant breathe and gasps for every second or third inhalation. This can go on for days internittently then disappear for weeks. I used to think it was an attention thing. She can be extremely "dramatic". But I'm starting to worry. Is there some disorder that would make it harder to breathe at rest than during physical exertion?
Brief Answer:
intermittent dyspnoea could be anemia
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for writing to us.
The symptoms you described fit into intermittent dyspnoea.
There could be various reasons for it but if it is more at rest and not on exertion then it could be attention seeking also.
Talk to her to understand if she has any problems at school.
The commonest cause in this age group would be anemia and exercise induced breathlessness.
But even here the breathlessness would be more prominent on exertion than at rest.
Some cardiac and lung issues can cause paroxysmal dyspnoea more on sitting or lying down but as she is otherwise healthy active, chances are less.
I would suggest you to get her hemoglobin checked.
If symptoms persist she might need a complete evaluation to rule out minor lung or heart issues like atrial septal defect etc.
Wishing your child good health
Regards
Dr Arun
intermittent dyspnoea could be anemia
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for writing to us.
The symptoms you described fit into intermittent dyspnoea.
There could be various reasons for it but if it is more at rest and not on exertion then it could be attention seeking also.
Talk to her to understand if she has any problems at school.
The commonest cause in this age group would be anemia and exercise induced breathlessness.
But even here the breathlessness would be more prominent on exertion than at rest.
Some cardiac and lung issues can cause paroxysmal dyspnoea more on sitting or lying down but as she is otherwise healthy active, chances are less.
I would suggest you to get her hemoglobin checked.
If symptoms persist she might need a complete evaluation to rule out minor lung or heart issues like atrial septal defect etc.
Wishing your child good health
Regards
Dr Arun
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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