Dry or Secondary Drowning
June 24, 2021
Shana Harter
Dry drowning is not an actual medical term; it is an extremely rare medical complication that occurs when water is inhaled but never reaches a person’s lungs. The inhaled water causes one’s airways to spasm, which closes off airflow. In dry drowning, signs are apparent right away.
Secondary drowning is another complication of near-drowning. In this case, air does get into the lungs, where it irritates the lining of the lungs and causes swelling.
Signs of secondary drowning may start from one to 24 hours after water has entered the lungs. Other symptoms of secondary drowning include coughing, vomiting, fever, chest pain, lethargy, difficulty breathing, and diarrhea.
Either complication happens within a few minutes to a few hours of being underwater or submerged in water. It is important to note that children do not dry drown from swallowing water or playing in it.
If your child or loved one begins to show signs of dry drowning or secondary drowning, seek emergency medical help immediately.
Dry drowning is not an actual medical term; it is an extremely rare medical complication that occurs when water is inhaled but never reaches a person’s lungs. The inhaled water causes one’s airways to spasm, which closes off airflow. In dry drowning, signs are apparent right away.
Secondary drowning is another complication of near-drowning. In this case, air does get into the lungs, where it irritates the lining of the lungs and causes swelling.
Signs of secondary drowning may start from one to 24 hours after water has entered the lungs. Other symptoms of secondary drowning include coughing, vomiting, fever, chest pain, lethargy, difficulty breathing, and diarrhea.
Either complication happens within a few minutes to a few hours of being underwater or submerged in water. It is important to note that children do not dry drown from swallowing water or playing in it.
If your child or loved one begins to show signs of dry drowning or secondary drowning, seek emergency medical help immediately.