noisy breathing

Noisy Breathing

Diagnosing And Treating Noisy Breathing In Children

If you notice your child is making a lot of sounds when breathing, contact our team at Virginia Ear, Nose & Throat Associates. Our team can conduct a thorough evaluation and determine the root cause of your child’s breathing problems and develop a customized treatment plan to meet their specific needs.

Types Of Noisy Breathing

Noisy breathing is a common issue affecting children. In some cases, it is harmless—in others, it can point to an underlying condition or issue with the airways. There are a few different sounds that you may notice your child making while breathing. Each sound may point to a different issue in the airways. These include:

  • Wheezing: If you notice your child making a high-pitched sound when exhaling, they could be wheezing.

  • Stridor: A stridor is a higher-pitched sound that your child may emit when inhaling, exhaling or both.

  • Stertor: A lower-pitched sound that often mimics congestion or snoring.

The type of sound your child makes, as well as when they make this sound, will help our team to determine the root cause. If your child is making sounds while breathing in addition to pauses in breathing, drooling or changes in skin color, seek medical attention immediately.

Causes Of Noisy Breathing

The airway is comprised of the pathway from the nose to the lungs, and disease can affect any point along this pathway. Most diseases of the airway are manifested by noisy or obstructed breathing. Sounds while breathing can be caused by a variety of conditions, including:

Lumps in the nasal passageways that can restrict breathing

Narrowing of the back of the nostrils

Swollen or enlarged tonsils or adenoids can partially block the throat

Floppiness of the larynx and trachea

Lumps or paralysis of the vocal cords

Chronic spasms and swelling of the airways

Upper respiratory infection, either viral or bacterial in nature

Narrow airways that are present at birth

Diagnosing And Treating Noisy Breathing

There are several things that our team will take into consideration when diagnosing your child’s noisy breathing. Considerations include:

  • Your child’s medical history

  • When they started making sounds while breathing—either it was present at birth, or developed later on

  • When the sounds manifest—when exhaling, inhaling or both

  • Pitch and volume of the sounds

In some cases, our ENT specialists may recommend a flexible fiberoptic examination of the airway, a bronchoscopy or x-rays so they can see inside the airways and better diagnose the issue. Treatment varies from patient to patient, but may include medication, endoscopic procedures and in some cases, open neck surgery performed in the operating room.

Call Virginia Ear, Nose & Throat

If your child is making noises while breathing, request an appointment with our team at Virginia Ear, Nose & Throat. Our experienced, compassionate team can swiftly diagnose and treat your child’s noisy breathing, giving them relief and you peace of mind. Call us at (804) 484-3700 to get started.