Dry drowning symptoms in toddlers

Dry drowning symptoms in toddlers

Dry drowning in toddlers basically means that water has entered the the lungs of the toddlers. This often leads to suffocation because there is not enough oxygen in the lungs. The time when death may occur differs. It can be instantly after the water has entered the lungs or it can occur after 24 hours. It is important that the damage caused by dry drowning is treated properly or the symptoms may appear again in the next couple of days. The water ends up in the lungs usually during a bath either in swimming pool or a bath tub. This is why parents must be careful when giving their baby a bath. Toddlers have not yet developed their lungs to the fullest so they are the ones that suffer most from dry drowning. If the toddler has some lung disease or has problems with breathing like asthma the thing can only get worse.

Why dry drowning can be fatal?

When people breath in, the air goes through larynx before it ends up in the lungs. However, when a person inhales water instead of air, a contraction of muscles of laryngeal cord occurs and then the larynx shuts. This spasm condition goes on for half a minute. During this half a minute the exhalation process goes on normally while the inhalation process is partially blocked. When this happens, the diaphragm creates a vacuum and there is no air supply to it. Since the vacuum sticks, a person will normally try to inhale harder in order to bring air to those vacuums. At the same time the vacuum puts on more pressure on the chest. Now there is no oxygen inflow since it is obstructed and this condition is called hypoxia. Another thing that is blocked as well is the outflow of dioxide. Death occurs since there is not enough supply of oxygen.

Dry drowning symptomsIn order to find these symptoms a person must first get to know them.

Excessive coughing occurs when a toddler accidentally swallows water. If this coughing goes on for more than it is normal there is a chance that water has reached the lungs. Another symptoms that go along with the coughing are the rubbing of eyes and crying a lot.

It is normal for the toddlers to breathe slightly different when they are in the tub but if that continues for more that a couple of minutes once they are taken out it could mean that the water has entered the lungs. This is actually one of the most certain signs of dry drowning.

Since chest pain does not usually happen to toddlers this could be a sign of something serious.

It is normal for toddlers to be full of energy. However, if a parent sees that his or her child is looking exhausted, he or she must not instantly think it is because the child is tired. It can also be a sign of dry drowning.

Some of the other symptoms include behavioral changes, chocking for more than a couple of minutes and skin color change.

If a parent discovers any of these symptoms he must take the child to the hospital right away.