Take note when any child breathes over 50 times a
minute.
Smaller children normally have a faster rate of
breathing than older children, but you should immediately show the child to a doctor if the rate of breathing is as
follows:
Upto 2 months of age
60 or more per minute
2 months to 1 year
50 or more per minute
1 to 5 years
40 or more per minute
Older children
30 or more per minute
To count the rate, place your watch (with a seconds’
hand) over the chest of the child and count the number of breaths per minute.
Along with fast breathing, if the spaces between the
lower ribs of a child’s chest go in as the child breathes,
rush to the doctor. If such a child is unable to drink anything, it
is a medical emergency and the child should be taken to hospital immediately.
COMMON CAUSES: A few common causes of breathlessness discussed under individual headings are:
