Fast breathing in a 3yr-old - Anyone know what a usual breathing rate is?

[coppertop]

Dd (3) has what I suspect is a chest infection. She has an appointment with the GP later this morning.

Her breathing looks very fast to me. Even when dozing it's around 50 breaths per minute. Does anyone know what her breathing rate/speed should be?

Thanks.

I can't remember off hand, but it should definitely be less than that....the GP will be able to tell you.

Does she have a temp? If so, fever increases rate of breathing. Chest infection would too, and so would asthma/wheeziness/stuffed nose (if she's trying to breathe through it when its blocked).

Good that you're seeing GP, hope it goes well and dd is better soon!

IIRC anything above 40 is a bit high i'd get her checked.

Yes she feels very hot and the Calpol and Nurofen aren't doing anything. Her brothers have asthma so again that's a possibility.

Thanks for the help.

We have just had this conversation with our doctor last week as DD was struggling to breathe and her breathing rate was 50 and she had a chest infection. The doctor said between 20 and 30 was normal, anything higher than that was fast. I would take her to the doc.

You may find that the GP will tell you to go to A&E where they can give her a nebuliser and steroids.