Shortness of breath is a sensation of feeling suffocated or there is tightness of the chest. This sign might only occur once or might arise often. The potential reasons of shortness of breath in toddlers might necessitate further medical assessment. If the toddler is continuously short of breath, a doctor should be seen right away.
Iron deficiency
Due to the poor intake of iron-rich foods, toddlers are prone to iron deficiency. Children between 1-4 years of age are rapidly growing and exhausting the iron supply in the body.
If iron deficiency is present, the child has less energy along with dizziness, headache, irritability, shortness of breath and weight loss.
The addition of more iron to the diet of the child can help restore the level of iron to normal. Foods that are ideal sources of iron include dried fruits and beans, lean red meat, iron-fortified cereals, whole grains, seeds, eggs and some vegetables such as asparagus, broccoli and spinach.
Acute bronchitis
Acute bronchitis is an infection of the bronchial tree. In most cases, the cause is a virus and trigger symptoms such as chest congestion, sore throat, wheezing, body aches, shortness of breath, chills, fever and cough with green, clear or yellow mucus.
Luckily, the infection settles without requiring medical care. If the symptoms are bothersome, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are given to relieve the pain and aches while acetaminophen can be given for fever.
Asthma
Asthma is characterized by the swelling and constriction of the airways which leads to difficulty breathing and increased production of mucus. The usual signs of the condition include shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing and chest pain or tightness.
Quick Note / Disclaimer
The material posted on this page on shortness of breath is for learning and educational purposes only. To learn to recognize the indications, register for a first aid and CPR course with Toronto First Aid.