Choking (for unconscious infant under 1 year)

Alternative names:

Heimlich maneuver - unconscious infant

Definition:

Inability to breathe due to a blockage in the airway.

Considerations:

All choking victims should seek medical attention, since complications can arise not only from the incident but also from the first aid measures taken.

Occasionally an object will enter the lung instead of being expelled. While the victim may appear to improve and breathe normally, in a few days signs and symptoms of a foreign body in the lung will appear such as wheezing, persistent cough, and pneumonia. If this happens, get medical help immediately.

Causes:

Choking in infants is usually caused by inhaling or swallowing a foreign object.