Intercostal retractions
Alternative names:
retractions of the chest muscles
Home care:
A breathing problem should always be evaluated unless there is an established diagnosis such as asthma and the patient and the parent feel comfortable following the prescribed treatment. Consult your health care provider and follow his instructions. With the exception of mild asthma, croup and bronchiolitis most of the above conditions are treated in the hospital.
Call your health care provider if:
- intercostal retractions occur. This can be a sign of airway obstruction, which can quickly become life threatening.
- other symptoms are also present. If the patient is frightened or anxious, the skin, lips, or nailbeds are blue, or if the person becomes confused, drowsy, or hard to awaken, this is an emergency situation!
What to expect at your health care provider's office:
In emergency situations, interventions will be taken first to help with the breathing. This may include oxygen, medications to reduce swelling, or other measures.
When the condition is stable enough to allow it, the history will be obtained and a physical examination performed to determine the cause of the airway obstruction.
Medical history questions documenting intercostal retractions in detail may include:
- time pattern
- When did it start?
- Is it getting better, worse, or staying the same?
- Does it occur all the time?
- quality
- history
- Did you notice anything significant that might have caused an airway obstruction?
- Have you or the child been ill, coughing, or complaining of a sore throat?
- Have you seen the child putting anything in the mouth that might have been inhaled into the airway?
- What other symptoms are also present? Especially, did the child turn blue, wheeze, or have a high-pitched sound when breathing (stridor)?
Diagnostic tests may include:
Update Date: 02/09/00
Updated by: J. Gordon Lambert, MD, Associate Medical Director,
Utah Health Informatics and adam.com
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