But that night, Johnny was wheezing and coughing fitfully. It was only when his respiration started to sound like a rattle, and he got highly irritable that his parents became worried and rushed him to the hospital.
It was a good thing they acted. It turns out that little Johnny was suffering from a condition known as dry drowning, which occurs when ingested water causes complications in the lungs. This causes the lungs to start secreting fluids, and in turn makes the sufferer unable to extract oxygen, primarily due to muscle paralysis.
Left untreated, the condition can result in death. It’s not easy to spot, even by the most observant parent. Dry drowning can occur from ingesting small amounts of water, as with getting water in the mouth while swimming or being dunked unexpectedly during horseplay.
It also can be sparked by muscular paralysis or a wound or blow to the torso that damages the diaphragm, making it hard for the organ to function. The condition can also stem from holding your breath, muscular paralysis and exposure for a period to methane gas and other toxic environmental factors. Death can occur within 24 hours if not treated.
Statistics attributed to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention claim that 10 percent to 15 percent of drowning deaths each year may be classified as dry drowning. However, CDC statistics do not distinguish between dry drowning and so-called “wet” drowning, relying on a universal definition of drowning as respiratory impairment from submersion or immersion in liquid.
Death by drowning is attributed as the second-leading cause of unintentional death by the CDC among children up to 14 years old. It is also fifth in the table for unintentional deaths among people of all ages. Most of the victims are male, and the highest risk appears to happen between 1 to 4 years old, and the majority happen in recreational settings in natural water, i.e., rivers, lakes and the ocean. Combined with drownings in boating accidents, drownings triple those that occur in swimming pools.
Older teens and adults can be affected by dry drowning as well, but it’s primarily a problem with children. In the older teens and adults, drugs and alcohol may sometimes play a role in their ingesting too much water and causing complications.
Dry drowning is sometimes confused with a medical condition known as “secondary drowning,” but they are not the same condition. Although some people use the terms interchangeably at times, secondary drowning is a different animal.
With secondary drowning, a small amount of water reaches the lungs and can cause swelling or inflammation. That makes it difficult for the lungs to achieve their normal function, which is transferring oxygen to carbon dioxide and back. Both conditions are dangerous, and many experts are now refusing to separate the two conditions, preferring to place them on a short list of related drowning conditions that can occur.
Signs of Dry Drowning
Most parents feel that their watchdog duties end when their offspring leave the water. But dry drowning typically isn’t noticed until hours after the incident occurs, and your child may look perfectly normal until the symptoms become so severe that it’s obvious he or she is suffering from ill health.
Dry drowning is a reaction that happens not from the water taken in during swimming activities, but as a secondary reaction to it. Water never reaches the lungs, but spasms in the vocal cords can cause airways to close, leaving your child gasping for air.
The symptoms are fairly distressing and obvious once they occur. They include chest pain, coughing, extreme fatigue and difficulty breathing. As a result, your child may become either extremely irritable or come close to passing out, which can mean the brain isn't getting enough oxygen. Some children begin throwing up or go from extremely active to sleepy in a very short time span. They can also complain of feeling ill or exhibit extreme forgetfulness, a sign that the brain is fighting for oxygen.
Certainly, any child pulled from the water by a lifeguard or other caregiver needs to be monitored closely for symptoms.
If you suspect dry drowning, time is of the essence in seeking medical attention. The condition is treatable if caught in time. Take your child directly to the emergency room or an advanced care unit because chest X-rays, intravenous fluids and trauma observation are essential to combatting the problem. There are no drugs to help with the breathing problem, but severe problems can always be helped by insertion of a breathing tube. Trained medical professionals will monitor your child to make sure that breathing is steady and airways are getting enough oxygen.
Preventing Dry Drowning
The first word of safety when your child is in the water is “observe.” Keep a close eye on your child when he or she is near or immersed in a body of water and make sure that he or she understands that you should never swim alone. Certainly make sure they understand that the safest swimming locations are near the lifeguard and never to enter the water without a lifeguard present.
Also keep in mind that the size of the body of water isn’t much of a factor. Drownings have occurred in kiddie pools, bath tubs, wading pools and sinks. It’s all about the size of the child and the ingested water.
Early-childhood swim lessons can make a huge difference in your child’s approach to the water and water safety. There are programs for children and parents available at nominal cost at many recreation centers, YMCAs, swim academies and other facilities. These programs will help your child get comfortable with the basics of swimming and floating.