Question

Why does a child make a dry sound while breastfeeding?

Answer

A dry sound during breastfeeding in children may be caused by laryngospasm. Laryngospasm is a spasm of the upper respiratory tract. In mild cases, it may only manifest as a slight inspiratory stridor, but in severe cases, it could lead to complete upper respiratory obstruction. If not properly treated, the condition can worsen rapidly. In cases of complete obstruction, the inspiratory stridor will disappear, and special attention should be paid as this “silent” obstruction can be mistaken for a stable condition. Treatment measures for laryngospasm include:

  1. Administering pure oxygen inhalation, and if necessary, performing pure oxygen positive pressure ventilation until the patient regains consciousness and the laryngospasm disappears.
  2. If inadequate anesthesia leads to laryngospasm, intravenous or inhaled anesthetics should be used to deepen anesthesia until the laryngospasm and other symptoms disappear.
  3. If needed, short-acting muscle relaxants can be administered, and endotracheal intubation can be performed. Generally, if the patient’s blood oxygen saturation is found to be below 85% after extubation, further treatment is required. Additionally, atropine, an anticholinergic drug, can be used to increase glandular secretion and reduce the impact of oropharyngeal secretions on the respiratory tract.