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Grunting respirations in infants and children
S R Poole1, M Chetham, M Anderson
1Department of Peditarics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Children's Hospital, Denver 80218, USA.
Pediatric Emergency Care
|June 1, 1995
Summary
Grunting respirations in children, beyond newborns, often signal serious illness. Presenting symptoms help identify causes, guiding diagnostic tests for pediatric patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Emergency Medicine
- Respiratory Physiology
- Clinical Diagnostics
Background:
- Grunting respirations are a recognized indicator of severe illness in infants and children, yet research beyond the neonatal period is limited.
- This study investigates the diverse causes of grunting respirations in pediatric patients presenting to an emergency department.
Observation:
- A descriptive study identified 51 pediatric patients (1 month to 18 years) with grunting respirations over five months.
- Patients were categorized into three groups based on presentation: respiratory symptoms, high fever without respiratory signs, or neither.
- Grunting respirations occurred in 0.3% of emergency department visits.
Findings:
- Group 1 (55%): Predominantly respiratory signs indicated underlying respiratory or cardiac conditions.
- Group 2 (25%): High fever without respiratory signs suggested infectious causes, frequently invasive bacterial disease.
- Group 3 (20%): Absence of fever and respiratory signs pointed to conditions causing pain.
Implications:
- Presenting symptoms of grunting respirations can effectively guide the selection of diagnostic tests.
- The findings provide a framework for evaluating pediatric patients exhibiting grunting respirations.
- Establishing clear diagnostic guidelines can improve the timely identification and management of serious pediatric conditions.
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