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What are the symptoms of trouble breathing?
When you have trouble breathing, your symptoms may be mild, moderate, or severe.
- Symptoms of mild trouble breathing:
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- Breathing slightly faster than normal
- Normal skin color
- Symptoms of moderate trouble breathing:
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- Breathing faster than normal
- Tiring quickly when you talk or eat
- Using your belly muscles to help you breathe
- Skin color that is pale to slightly gray, or lacy purple and pale (mottled)
- Symptoms of severe trouble breathing:
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- Breathing very fast (children usually grunt with each breath)
- Appearing anxious and being unable to eat because it's too hard to breathe
- Using the neck, chest, and belly muscles to breathe
- Sometimes having a high-pitched, musical sound when you breathe in
- Sitting up, leaning forward, or sitting with your nose tilted up
- Skin color that is persistently pale, gray, bluish, or mottled
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