Explain how respiratory infection can cause
serious respiratory obstruction in a young child
and include examples.
Upper airway obstruction is a common cause of respiratory insufficiency in infants. This reflects the frequency of upper airway abnormalities and disturbances, the presence of narrow airways, and structural inefficiencies of the lungs and chest wall. Most children suffering from critical airway obstruction and expert management have a normal life expectancy. Poor management can result in cardio-respiratory arrest and hypoxic brain damage.
Pathophysiology of respiratory obstruction due to infection
Because of the prolonged infection, the thoracic wall is retracted, a significant sign of respiratory distress reflects negative intra-pleural pressures generated in conjunction with chest wall compliance. Large negative intra-pleural pressures are also transmitted to the interstitial lung and can cause pulmonary edema. The Cor pulmonale can develop chronic blockage, hypoxia, and pulmonary hypertension, which leads to difficulty in breathing, agitation, etc.
Example-: The child diameter of the cricoid ring is 5 mm. A 50% reduction in radius will result in turbulent flow and will increase the pressure required to maintain respiration 32 times and due to continuous or recurrent infection, it constricted the tracheal wall which further causing obstruction in the airway.
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