A reflex that forces air from the lungs with a sudden noise. It is a symptom for a wide group of diseases.
Babies are able to take a bottle or nurse comfortably and are able to smile and coo.
The stomach muscles may be moving in and out very slightly when the child breathes. This visible movement of extra muscles to breathe is called retractions . Places to look for retractions include the muscles in the neck, the muscles in between or below the ribs and the stomach muscles. Moderate difficulty breathing is noted when a child is breathing with more effort than normal, has retractions of the muscles of the stomach and possibly between the ribs. He may appear pale, but not blue.