Les pathologies responsables de dyspnée aiguë de l'enfant sont multiples, certaines peuvent rapidement mettre en jeu le pronostic vital et nécessitent donc une prise en charge préhospitalière médicalisée rapide. On distingue habituellement les dyspnées obstructives d'origine haute (laryngites, hypertrophie lymphoïde, dyskinésies laryngotrachéales) ou basse (corps étranger, bronchiolite, asthme), des dyspnées d'origine pulmonaire (pleuropneumopathie et insuffisance cardiaque surtout) ou encore sine materia (collapsus, hyperthermie, déshydratation, acidose, intoxication). Après l'évaluation de la gravité, la prise en charge a pour objectif de restaurer une oxygénation correcte, avant de mettre en place un traitement étiologique.

Diagnosis of an acute obstructive dyspnea in children is very difficult, especially in the preshospital setting, because there are many possible causes. However, some of them may rapidly become life-threatening and therefore require a rapid prehospital management by a team staffed by a physician. The main causes of acute dyspnea in children usually include: obstructive dyspnea (acute laryngitis, foreign body aspiration, bronchiolotis, acute asthma), pulmonary infections and cardiac dyspnea, as well as dyspnea from other origins (cardiovascular collapse, hyperthermia, acidosis, intoxication, deshydratation). Following the assessment of the severity of the illness, the prehospital management should aimed at restoring an optimal oxygenation, before initiating a treatment adapted to the cause of the disease.