Introduction
Physical Examination
General
Cyanosis
Labored respirations
Tachypnea
Chest wall retractions
Nasal Flaring
Coughing/Sneezing
Grunting
Stridor
Differential Diagnosis
Specific Diseases
References
Other Lectures
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Nasal flaring, an outward and upward flaring of the nares on inspiration, is a primitive reflex seen in young infants, who are obligate nose breathers for the first 2 to 3 months of life. It probably is an attempt to decrease the airway resistance at the nares, which is quite high in the young infant.
Flaring is more specific for the respiratory tract than tachypnea, since it does not occur in cardiac disease or metabolic acidosis. It does occur early in the course of respiratory disease and increases as the disease worsens. However, the size of the infant's nares limits the amount that they can flare, even with increasing disease. So, there is not much clinical difference between mild, moderate and severe nasal flaring.
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