My friends 4 month old grand baby has been in and out of the hospital for the past couple months with respitarory problems. They have tried breathing treatments using a nebulizer, nothing seems to help. Last weekend he was again admitted to the hospital this time with a colapsed lung, the doctors inflated the lung and now they are talking surgery something to do with his esphoagus . My friend is scared to death, does anyone know what might cause this in a 4 month old baby or what his esphogus might have to do with the blockage of his airway?
2007-02-28 15:52:00 · 3 answers · asked by mermaidqueen33 1 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Respiratory Diseases
About 1 in 4,000 infants are born with a tracheoesophageal fistula. What is a tracheoesophageal fistula? A fistula is a connection between 2 tubes. The breathing tube that connects the nose and mouth with the lungs is called the trachea. The swallowing tube is the esophagus. The breathing tube and the swallowing tube aren't supposed to be connected. But when a child has a tracheoesophageal fistula, the fistula connects the 2 tubes. This means that food or milk in the stomach can get into the lungs. This can cause breathing problems and even pneumonia.
If the child has this problem, surgery should correct. Long term, the child could end up with digestive issues, but pulmonary problems associated with tracheoesophageal fistula would be eliminated.
Make sure your friend understands completely what is wrong with her child. The surgeon should have a model of a human being and should be able to show her what, and where the problem is and what he is going to do to fix it. Good luck.
2007-02-28 18:32:15 · answer #1 · answered by Barry M 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The baby might have a problem with the epiglottis. The flap that allows air down one tube and food down the other. Sometime the flap gets stuck over the esophagus, not completely blocking it but making it hard to get air. Or the baby could have an infection that is causing it. I hope it helps.
Peace
2007-02-28 16:32:49 · answer #2 · answered by Massageman 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
it might be bronchitis, i had bronchitis as a child and i couldn't breath because mucus were blocking my bronchus and trachea. i couldn't breath so easily until i was hospitalized for i dint know how many days. a tube was inserted into my nostrils and into my trachea and to the bronchus to suck out mucus for a few days.
i got an early diagnosis and that saved me from further suffering. Later, i went for a therapy and today, the only side effect (maybe) i got from bronchitis are morning flues almost every day. around... 3 to 4 days a week if i dint take my Scott's emulsion and vitamin C.
2007-02-28 19:03:21 · answer #3 · answered by getting_bored 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋