Alternate Names: Sibilant rhonchi
Considerations: The clinical importance of wheezing is that it is an indicator of difficult breathing. In a child with a respiratory infection, wheezing may occur before shortness of breath is noticed.
Wheezing is most obvious when exhaling (breathing out) but may be present when inhaling (breathing in) and exhaling.
Wheezing comes from the bronchial tubes (breathing tubes deep in the chest), in contrast to croupy, crowing, or whooping sounds that come from the trachea and larynx (voice box in the neck).
Common Causes:
Home Care: Drink plenty of fluids. It is best to drink water, but fruit juices or soft drinks may be used if this will increase the amount of liquids taken.
Use a cold mist vaporizer. If a vaporizer is not available, the shower may be used to produce a mist. Unfortunately, it is difficult to get much vapor down to the small breathing tubes.
Call If:
What To Expect: The medical history will be obtained and a physical examination performed.
Medical history questions documenting wheezing in detail may include:
- time pattern
- When did the wheezing begin?
- How long does it last?
- Does it occur often?
- Does it occur daily?
- What time of day does it occur?
- Is it worse at night or in the early morning?
- quality
- What does the wheezing sound like?
- Does it make breathing difficult?
- Does it require stopping all physical activity?
- Does it resolve without treatment?
- aggravating factors
- What seems to cause it?
- Eating certain foods?
- Taking certain medications?
- What makes it worse?
- relieving factors
- What helps relieve it?
- Rest?
- Medications such as bronchodilators?
- other symptoms
- additional information
- Is there a history of asthma or allergies?
- What medications are being taken?
- Has there been exposure to tobacco smoke?
- Has there been a recent illness?
The physical examination may include listening to the lung sounds (auscultation). The possibility that foreign material has been swallowed may also be investigated in small children.
Diagnostic tests that may be performed are:Intervention:
Drugs to open up the breathing tube, such as adrenalin or aminophylline, may be given by inhalation, aerosol, injection, by mouth, or by rectal suppository. Hospitalization should only be necessary if fluids need to be given intravenously or if humidification can’t be achieved in any other way. In any case, the patient will need to be closely watched. Hospitalization may be required as a precautionary measure to prevent the condition from getting worse.
After seeing your health care provider:
If a diagnosis was made by your health care provider related to wheezing, you may want to note that diagnosis in your personal medical record.
