A MUM has shared a distressing video of her little girl gasping for breath as a warning to other parents.
She was able to spot red flags quickly and said she was relieved she didn’t wait even an hour longer before seeking medical help.
Tiny Hearts Education InstagramA mum shared a distressing video of her little girl gasping for breath to help save other families[/caption]
Tiny Hearts Education InstagramLenni had pneumonia and her mum was quick to spot worrying signs[/caption]
The video was shared on Tiny Hearts Education Instagram, a first-aid channel for parents based in the US.
It shows a series of videos in which the little girl, Lenni, is desperately trying to get breath, at home and in hospital.
The mum, who does not name herself, said: “Last year, Lenni became unwell. She had a slight temp and her work of breathing had increased.
“I took her to ED [emergency department], where the estimated wait time was seven hours.
“Lenni’s condition picked up by the time we got there, so I decided to take her home and monitor her.
“Three hours later, at home, she had crashed.”
The mum rushed Lenni back to ED where a MET call was made, calling a team of doctors and nurses to an urgent medical situation.
“A chest X-ray revealed she had pneumonia, and both her lungs had started to collapse,” the mum said.
“She was immediately transferred to another hospital and placed in ICU.”
Pneumonia develops from a viral or bacterial infection, which are passed through coughs, sneezes or touching items handled by an infected person.
Pneumonia is most common in younger children and often starts after a cold, cough or sore throat, Great Ormond Street Hospital says.
The symptoms vary depending on the age of the child and also the precise cause of the infection.
The early symptoms of the condition are very similar to those seen in colds, such as a cough, laboured breathing, vomiting, decreased activity and loss of appetite.
In general, the key symptoms for children are a temperature over 38.5°C and rapid breathing, or difficulty in breathing.
The mum said Lenni “responded well to treatment and antibiotics and made a great recovery”.
“I would hate to think what may have happened had I didn’t know the signs and waited even an hour longer to take her in.”
The mum said the knowledge she had learned from Tiny Hearts “literally saved her life”.
The educational page, ran by Nikki Jurcutz, said: “As a parent, knowing when to bring your child to hospital is a crucial skill.
“Being able to do a respiratory assessment is one of the ways you can empower yourself.
“When a child is critically unwell, you don’t have time to hesitate. Be calm, confident and prepared by getting educated.”
Signs that a child is struggling to breathe include nose flaring, wheezing, grunting and bluish tinge to their skin or lips.
Tiny Hearts has an in-depth guide to respiratory distress in small children. It says parents should film a video of the babies’ bare chest, neck and face while breathing normally to compare against.
It then describes signs of a baby struggling to breathe, including:
‘Sucking in’ underneath their ribcageSucking in around the throat and collarbone (a more severe sign)Respiratory noises, such as grunting, wheezing and stridor (high-pitched sound)DrowsinessColour change around or inside their lips and fingernails
Tiny Hearts Education InstagramThe mum first shares video footage of Lenni at home when she became unwell[/caption]
Tiny Hearts Education InstagramThe youngster recovered well[/caption] Read More