During the summer season, it is common to take your family to a local pool, river, or lake to get relief from the heat and have fun during summer vacation, a holiday, or a weekend getaway. Your kids are swimming, cannonballing (jumping in the water), and playing water games asking you as the parent to watch them as they play. One of the times your child jumps into the water they are underwater for longer than normal but before panic sets in, your child comes above the water and starts coughing and have difficulty breathing. As the parent, you have them come out of the water to take a break from swimming and after some time, they begin to breathe normally so you decide your child can continue on playing in the water. Everything is fine and normal. Then you get home later in the evening and your child states they do not feel well, and you notice they are having problems breathing and have a fever. Your "gut" instinct is telling you there is something wrong, so you take your child to the hospital which was a good call because your child got diagnosed with acute lung injury.
What is dry drowning? There is no actual medical diagnosis or term for dry drowning or secondary drowning but is related to delayed illness that is caused by aspirating water into the lungs causing the larynx (vocal cords) to spasm. A serious condition from dry drowning is called pulmonary edema. When water gets inhaled, it can make the lungs swell causing major airway problems which then becomes a medical emergency. Knowing the difference between delayed signs of illness and immediate signs of illness relating to drowning is important. The public is more aware for immediate signs of illness related to drowning because it is the most common form of drowning. A person goes underwater for too long, the body goes into a panic which makes the person inhale a large amount of water resulting to fluid filling the lungs. At that moment, you know this person needs help with resuscitation (CPR) or they will die. Dry drowning is not like this. The child inhales water coughs it up and continue breathing normally not know airway spasm has occurred or that water may still be in the lungs causing pulmonary edema.
Now you know what dry drowning is but how do you recognize sign and symptoms in your child of having a delayed illness caused by aspirating water? There are many signs and symptoms such as:
Persistent/heavy coughing
High fever
Shortness of breath
Change of skin color
Loss of consciousness
Vomiting or foaming at the mouth
What do you do if your child is exhibiting these signs and symptoms stated above? Go seek medical attention immediately!! The doctor will help provide common medical treatments for the drowning event with oxygen and a nebulized albuterol (breathing inhaler). The sooner your child gets medical treatment, the better chances for your child to recover.
How do you prevent dry drowning? Have consistent supervision on your child while near and in the water. Set parameters of where it is safe to swim and pay attention to danger signs related to swimming areas such as high tides for oceans or no lifeguard on duty for pools. Have your child wear a life jacket so when they get tired, their life jacket will help them float until a adult helps them or regain energy to contiune to swim to safety. Lastly, know how to perform CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation). CPR can save lives and it could save your child's life as well.
Sources
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/dry-drowning-separating-fact-from-fiction Assessed and Endorsed by the MedReport Medical Review Board
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