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An infant fatality associated with inspiratory and expiratory wheezing: another wheeze that wasn't asthma
1Pediatric Emergency Department, St. Joseph's Hospital, Tampa, FL., USA.
Pediatric Emergency Care
|February 1, 1995
Insights
Hypocalcemia can cause biphasic wheezing in infants with respiratory distress. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial to prevent adverse outcomes in neonates.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Neonatology
- Clinical Pediatrics
Background:
- Infants presenting with respiratory distress often exhibit stridor and wheezing.
- A thorough differential diagnosis is essential for accurate pediatric respiratory assessment.
Observation:
- Biphasic wheezing, characterized by both inspiratory stridor and expiratory wheezing, can be a presenting sign in infants.
- This specific pattern of respiratory noise may indicate underlying metabolic disturbances.
Findings:
- Hypocalcemia, a condition of low calcium levels, should be considered in the differential diagnosis of infants with biphasic wheezing.
- Failure to identify hypocalcemia as a cause of respiratory symptoms can lead to significant patient harm.
Implications:
- Expanding the differential diagnosis for infant respiratory distress to include hypocalcemia is critical.
- Timely recognition and management of hypocalcemia can improve patient outcomes and prevent severe complications.
Abstract:
The physician who encounters an infant with respiratory distress associated with inspiratory stridor and expiratory wheezing should maintain an expanded differential diagnosis. Hypocalcemia should be included in the differential diagnosis for biphasic wheezing. Failure to consider this entity may lead to adverse patient outcome.