A practical guide for parents in Dubai — understanding your child's respiratory and sleep symptoms, common causes, and when to see a specialist.
Blue lips or fingertips · Struggling to complete a sentence · Ribs visible when breathing · Not improving after reliever inhaler · Sudden-onset noisy breathing after eating or playing with small objects · Drowsiness during a breathing episode
A cough lasting more than 4 weeks is called a chronic cough. It always has a cause — and in most cases, it is entirely treatable.
A whistling sound when breathing out — from narrowed airways. In children over 3, wheeze is asthma until proven otherwise.
Snoring most nights, restless sleep, or witnessed pauses in breathing are not normal and should always be assessed.
If a child is getting enough hours but waking exhausted, irritable, or struggling at school — the quality of sleep, not just the quantity, is the problem.
Three or more chest infections a year — especially in the same area of the lung — always warrants specialist investigation.
Stopping during PE, falling behind peers, chest tightness during sport — exercise-induced symptoms are often the only sign of asthma in older children.
New bedwetting in a child who was previously dry — especially alongside tiredness or poor concentration — is a classic and consistently overlooked sign of sleep apnoea.
Habitual mouth breathing — especially during the day — signals upper airway obstruction. In Dubai, nasal congestion from dust mite allergy and air conditioning is a major contributing factor.
Book a consultation. Dr Omi Narayan will take a detailed history, examine your child, and arrange the right investigations — all under one roof at American Hospital Dubai.
Book an Appointment →American Hospital Dubai · Oud Metha & Dubai Hills · Video consultations available