Introduction: The basic vital function that ensures a person’s survival and functioning is breathing. Having trouble breathing or restricted breathing can quickly endanger a person’s life. Owing to the special features of the anatomy and physiology of their respiratory organs, children experience respiratory distress sooner and more often than adults. Their condition may change or worsen very quickly, which is why health care professionals must be familiar with the signs and symptoms of respiratory distress. It requires professional, competent, quick and effective treatment by a medical team, which possesses the qualities of knowledge, trust, cooperation and a healthy interpersonal relationship. Purpose: The purpose of the bachelor thesis is to describe the respiratory distress of a small child and the nurse’s role. Work methods: A descriptive work method was used, combined with a systematic review of scientific and professional literature. Articles were searched for using various databases; articles that are freely accessible online were also used. Material was also gathered at the library of the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ljubljana, and the Ljubljana City Library. Discussion and conclusion: A child is not a miniature adult and must not be treated as such. A child’s respiratory pathways differ from those of an adult in the breathing mechanism and in the size and position of the respiratory pathways. Knowledge of the anatomy, physiology and histology of respiratory organs is of exceptional importance for health care professionals, because only then can they understand respiratory distress and respiratory failure. Since events and conditions in life are mostly unpredictable, we never know when we will have to help someone and how. It is therefore important that we, health care professionals, undergo constant training and follow the modernised and renewed guidelines, which aid us in helping those who have suddenly fallen ill as quickly and as well as we can, and in restoring their normal vital functions.
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