BE ALERT
MUMS have shared videos of their seriously unwell babies in order to help other parents spot the vital signs of illness.
Children always seem to have some bug of another, with many having surged following the Covid-19 pandemic.
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This is because it's the first years many little ones have had without any restrictions.
While most people know what to do when it comes to signs and symptoms of the common cold, there are other illnesses that you may not have come across.
Posting to CPR Kids, first aiders said parents should also be on the lookout for respiratory distress.
Paediatric nurse and managing director of the company, Sarah Hunstead said clips like the ones shared by mums help to empower everyone, by showing what respiratory distress can look like.
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The first clip, is one of a young boy who is experiencing a tracheal tug.
Sarah explained that this is when you can see visible sucking in a the neck.
"This is another 'red flag' of respiratory distress and requires urgent medical attention," she said.
The other clip was of a little girl who was also breathing heavily, sucking in her chest.
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She reassured followers that both of the children were now doing well, but added that with so much sickness around 'it is so important that everyone knows how to spot when a little one needs you to take action'.
The NHS says that there are many reasons your child might be breathing faster or have an altered breathing pattern.
Guidance states that this could be because they are acutely unwell with a virus or many other reasons.
They added that you don't need to know why - but that acting fast is crucial.
What to do if your child's breathing has changed
Medics state that if your child has one or more then you should seek help.
- noisy breathing - breath that sounds like grunting
- nasal flaring - nostrils widening when breathing
- mood change - sleepier, difficult to wake, fussier
- accessory muscle use - shoulders elevating when breathing
- head bobbing- bobbing forwards
- change in body position - altering posture to breath better
- retractions around the collarbones, in-between the ribs or if the tummy pulls beneath the rib cage.
- pale or bluish skin
- clammy skin.
If any of these happen then try and stay calm and reassure your child.
Make sure they are in a comfortable position in order to ease breathlessness.
If they have a reliever inhaler, give them this and is they have a chest physiotherapy programme –complete this.
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If after a couple of minutes they continue to show these signs then contact 999 immediately.
In the event of an emergency and if your child is unresponsive - always call 999.