Cough is the body's way of protecting the airway or eliminating items that have made it into the lungs unexpectedly. The process of a cough is quite complex and often begins with a trigger, such as a virus, which stimulates a nerve leading to a rapid deep breath followed by a forced exhalation against a closed upper airway. This helps to generate large pressure swings within the chest and forces air out very fast in hopes of mobilizing the pathogen (virus or bacteria), mucous or food that isn't supposed to be down there. Click HERE to learn more.

Description textMost parents will know it when they see it. Important signs and symptoms include an inability to speak in full sentences when your child previously was, noisy breathing, fast rate of breathing, retractions of the muscles of the chest wall or belly, and occasionally difficulty feeding because of the respiratory distress.

There are many causes of respiratory distress or difficulty breathing. We recommend seeking medical attention as soon as possible if you are at all concerned about your child's breathing. Some causes of acute difficulty breathing can include asthma, viral infections, bacterial infections or pneumonia, foreign body aspiration, nasal congestion, and much less common conditions such as a pneumothorax, pleural effusion or complications related to more chronic conditions. goes here

A child who was previously able to run or play but is no longer able to do as may have a form of exercise intolerance. It’s important to differentiate being “out of shape” from an intolerance of activity, but this can be quite challenging. Common reasons for exercise intolerance include respiratory infections, asthma and being unfit (“out of shape”). There are less common reasons for exercise intolerance as well. Regardless, if this is a symptom your child is experiencing, it is worth discussing it with your child’s physician. There are also helpful tips on safe, fun and effective exercise in the exercise section of BreathingNYC.com.

There are two major categories of disorders that lead to a runny nose (rhinorrhea) and congestion. These are typically infections or allergies. Infections are often associated with other symptoms of a virus (coughing, ear pain, fevers, sore throat and occasionally difficulty breathing or eating) but can be the only symptom. Allergies are also associated with other symptoms such as hives, itchy, watery eyes, and sneezing but can also have an associated cough or post-nasal drip. It can be really challenging, even for a physician, to differentiate the two. A runny nose is often seasonal (e.g. Spring pollen for allergies or Winter time for viral infections) but occasionally this can be a year round challenge for people. There are rarely more ominous causes for chronic runny nose, but certainly if this is causing your child trouble, a pediatrician or pediatric pulmonologist (lung doctor) can provide support. There are also excellent medications available for targeting chronic symptoms that your physician can recommend.

Wheezing is an often noisy, rattling, whistling or musical sound emanating from a person's lungs. It's typically a sound heard when exhaling or breathing out. It can be heard at the very end of a breath or can encompass the entire breath. Sometimes this can be heard without a stethoscope but often one is required. The most common reasons for wheezing include bronchiolitis and asthma, but there are many others.