My 8-year-old daughter has recently complained about having difficulty breathing. Occasionally, she feels minor chest pains while breathing in.
I am worried if these symptoms are due to an underlying heart problem. Will my child be allowed to take ECG test to determine if she has a heart problem? Should we consult a specialist?
Dr Stephen Lee, Specialist in Ear, Nose & Throat Surgery, Raffles Hospital
It is likely that your child has inflammation of the throat and this is often related to nasal and sinus infection. It results in post nasal drip and may well irritate the lower airways causing wheezing sounds and possible bronchial irritation. This needs to be checked for as the symptoms are still persisting. You could consult an ENT surgeon for this aspect.
It is possible to take an ECG test to determine for heart problem and a pediatrician should be able to sort this out.