Question
Lately, my child has been feeling unwell with particularly uncomfortable breathing. Upon a hospital check-up, the doctor mentioned neonatal pneumothorax. I’m not quite sure what that means. How should neonatal pneumothorax be handled?
Answer
Neonatal pneumothorax refers to rapid and irregular breathing in infants without symptoms or with only mild symptoms. Depending on the location of the leak, it can be categorized into interstitial emphysema, mediastinal emphysema, pneumothorax, and subcutaneous emphysema. When handling it, it’s important to keep the child calm and closely monitor clinical cases with no symptoms or mild symptoms. Additionally, avoid activities that could cause the leak to worsen due to crying or fussing. If the leak is not severe, free gas can be absorbed by the body itself. Pneumoperitoneum can also generally be absorbed on its own. It is recommended to feed small amounts of milk multiple times to prevent bloating from affecting ventilation. For primary lung diseases, targeted treatment should be based on specific conditions. When using mechanical ventilation, reduce positive pressure and extend the exhalation time, which can usually improve symptoms.