Signs of increased work of breathing include:
Tachypnea.
To recognise tachypnea in a pediatric patient, knowledge of normal respiratory rate by age group is required. Normal values are shown in the table below.
Age |
Respiratory Rate in Breaths per Minute |
Birth – 1 year |
20 - 45 |
1 year – 2 years |
20 - 35 |
2 -7 years |
20 - 30 |
7 – 12 years |
15 - 25 |
12 years up |
12 - 25 |
Intercostal, subcostal and sternal recession
Tracheal tug
Head bobbing due to sternocleidomastoid muscle use
Nasal flaring