Respiratory failure in children
The critical care physicians at Children’s Health℠ are international leaders in pediatric critical care. They work closely with nurses, respiratory therapists and other team members to ensure that your child gets whatever is needed at a moment's notice.
What does respiratory failure in children mean?
Respiratory failure is a condition in which the body cannot get enough oxygen from the lungs into the blood, or remove enough carbon dioxide from the blood.
What are the different types of respiratory failure in children?
There are two types of respiratory failure:
- Acute respiratory failure - Respiratory failure happens quickly.
- Chronic respiratory failure - Respiratory failure happens gradually as a result of a long-standing disease or condition.
What are the signs and symptoms of respiratory failure in children?
- Difficulty breathing
- Rapid breathing
- Bluish colored skin, lips and fingernails (called cyanosis)
- Confusion
How is respiratory failure in children diagnosed?
The following are tests that are used to diagnose respiratory failure. Your child’s doctor may use a combination of these:
- Medical history and physical exam
- Arterial blood gas test - a blood test that measures the oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in the blood
- Pulse oximetry - a noninvasive test that uses a small sensor attached to the finger or ear to estimate how much oxygen is in the blood
- Chest X-ray
What are the causes of respiratory failure in children?
Respiratory failure can be caused by:
- Conditions that affect the muscles or nerves that control breathing (such as muscular dystrophy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, spinal cord injuries)
- Chest injuries
- Spine problems (such as scoliosis)
- A drug or alcohol overdose
- Lung diseases or conditions (for example, pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, cystic fibrosis)
- Lung injury from inhaling smoke or harmful fumes
How is respiratory failure in children treated?
Respiratory failure is a critical condition that requires constant oversight by a team of specially-trained caregivers. Learn more about our critical care providers.
Standard respiratory failure treatments
The following are the customary treatments for respiratory failure. Your child’s doctor may use a combination of these treatment methods:
- Oxygen therapy, to increase the amount of oxygen in the bloodstream
- Mechanical ventilation, to help with breathing
- Noninvasive positive pressure ventilation, to keep the airways open during sleep
- Tracheostomy to create an opening in the trachea, providing an airway
- IV fluids, to improve blood flow and provide nutrition
- Treatment of the condition that caused the respiratory failure
Advanced respiratory failure treatments
The critical care team at Children’s is prepared to treat children with any critical care diagnosis or crisis, including respiratory failure. At Children’s Health, we provide patient-centered care, which means we put your child’s interests at the forefront. We have multiple resources that are designed to not only meet the needs of your child, but also your entire family.
Some of those resources include:
Immediate family is welcome 24 hours a day and limited sleeping accommodations are provided.
Although our main focus has always been high-quality patient care, many of our medical staff members also conduct research into new treatment methods and technologies. This allows Children’s Health to have access to new therapies years before they are available at other institutions. Our medical staff also wrote one of the major textbooks in the field of pediatric critical care, which helped to define how pediatric critical care is provided nationally.
Respiratory failure in children doctors and providers
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Cindy Bowens, MD Critical Care Specialist -
Steven Copenhaver, MD Pediatric Pulmonologist -
Archana Dhar, MD Critical Care Specialist -
Peter Luckett, MD Pediatric Pulmonologist -
Darryl Miles, MD Critical Care Specialist -
Pravin Sah, MD Pediatric Pulmonologist -
Maeve Sheehan, MD Critical Care Specialist
Frequently Asked Questions
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How do I know if my child has respiratory failure?
If your child has symptoms of respiratory failure, you should have her evaluated by a physician. Symptoms of respiratory failure may include difficulty breathing; rapid breathing; bluish colored skin, lips and fingernails (called cyanosis); and confusion.