Dr. Matthew Kreth, Pediatric Pulmonologist at Children’s Hospital at Erlanger, will lead a discussion about drowning verses dry drowning and pool safety this Thursday. He will answer questions and discuss current events with dry drowning
"Dry drowning refers to a rare phenomenon from delayed physical reaction to inhaling water. It occurs when a patient breathes water into their lungs; the water then affects the lungs ability to properly inflate causing edema and swelling as the body attempts to fight the foreign substance.
The symptoms usually appear between one and 24 hours after the incident and can appear as a mild, non-life-threatening issue. About 1-2% of all drowning deaths are deemed dry drowning. Symptoms include cough, trouble breathing, fever, and audible crackling in the chest. Coughing alone is not a symptom.
"Drowning is the third most common cause of accidental death in the U.S. Most drowning deaths are preventable with pool safety measures such as fencing to secure the pool area and adult vigilance," officials said.