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Suggest Treatment For Breathing Issues In A Child
Question: My son is 6 hrs and he's constantly sniffling, swats or wipes his ears with his hands, rubs his fingertips together, wipes his hair, licks his lips, bites his nails or keeps his fingers in his mouth and sometimes he has to take deep breathes when he's trying to talk. What could be the reason for all these habits? We asked him if he has a hard time breathing through his nose because that's what it looks like and he said yes, but we're not sure if he really knows why he does it. At times it appears as he does not have control over any of these actions.
Brief Answer:
Steam inhalation would be greatly beneficial. Behavioral therapy needed.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.
I have gone through your query and understand your concerns. I presume that the age of your child is 6 years and not 6 hours. If it is really 6 hours, you need not bother, just exclusively breast feed the baby and apply saline nasal drops in each nostril as required.
Assuming your child to be of 6 years, there are two parts of the stated problem. The first is a simple nasal stuffiness caused due to some allergic reaction, usually associated with common viral infections. Steam inhalation would help in reducing the nasal stuffiness. Also apply saline nasal drops.
The other problem is the involuntary fiddling habit as you mention "rubs his fingertips together, wipes his hair, licks his lips, bites his nails or keeps his fingers in his mouth". These are behavioral problems (the cause of the stated problems) and need to be addressed. You need to visit a psychologist who would be able assess the situation and administer cognitive behavioral therapy to the child. It will help in behavior modification.
Let me know if I could help further.
Regards
Steam inhalation would be greatly beneficial. Behavioral therapy needed.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.
I have gone through your query and understand your concerns. I presume that the age of your child is 6 years and not 6 hours. If it is really 6 hours, you need not bother, just exclusively breast feed the baby and apply saline nasal drops in each nostril as required.
Assuming your child to be of 6 years, there are two parts of the stated problem. The first is a simple nasal stuffiness caused due to some allergic reaction, usually associated with common viral infections. Steam inhalation would help in reducing the nasal stuffiness. Also apply saline nasal drops.
The other problem is the involuntary fiddling habit as you mention "rubs his fingertips together, wipes his hair, licks his lips, bites his nails or keeps his fingers in his mouth". These are behavioral problems (the cause of the stated problems) and need to be addressed. You need to visit a psychologist who would be able assess the situation and administer cognitive behavioral therapy to the child. It will help in behavior modification.
Let me know if I could help further.
Regards
Note: For further queries related to your child health, Talk to a Pediatrician. Click here to Book a Consultation.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
Answered by
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