Dry drowning is an outdated term meaning an instance of drowning when breathing is impaired, but little to no water enters the lungs. It's similar to secondary or delayed drowning, in which a small amount of water gets into the lungs and causes a buildup of fluid.
Doctors don't use either of these terms anymore. instead, they call cases like these "nonfatal drownings" or "submersion injuries". But the terms do point to a couple of rare complications that you should know about and that are more common in children.
What Is Drowning?
To understand these terms, it helps to understand just what "drowning" really means. Health experts define it as the process of having trouble breathing due to a lack of oxygen because your nose or mouth are submerged in liquid, typically water. This is whether your whole body goes under the water (submersion) or your face and airway get covered by water on the surface, such as from a wave (immersion). But it's the lack of oxygen that causes drowning, not whether water has gotten into the lungs. The process can end in death (fatal). But not all drownings are fatal. In nonfatal drownings, you either recover fully or recover with lasting injury to your heart, lungs, or brain.
Dry Drowning and Secondary Drowning
In what used to be called dry drowning, it was believed that water never reaches the lungs (aspiration), but that water into the nose causes the vocal cords to spasm and close up (laryngospasm). That shuts off the airways, making it hard to breathe. You would start to notice those signs in yourself or a child right away -- it wouldn’t happen out of the blue days later.
Current research suggests that true dry drowning plays a role in fewer than 2% of drowning deaths where another cause can't be found. In most of these rare cases, researchers believe death is due to something else, such as asthma or a sudden cardiac event, just before or as a person enters the water. drowning.
Similar to dry drowning is “secondary" or "delayed drowning.” This is another disused term for a different drowning complication. It happens if water does get into the lungs, where it irritates the lining. Fluid can then build up and cause a condition called pulmonary edema. You’d likely notice your child having trouble breathing right away, and it might get worse over the next 24 hours.
Both events are very rare. They make up only 1%-2% of all drownings, says pediatric critical care specialist James Orlowski, MD, of AdventHealth Tampa.
Symptoms
Drowning complications can include:
- Coughing
- Chest pain
- Trouble breathing
- Feeling extremely tired
Your child may also have changes in behavior such as such as irritability or a drop in energy levels, which could mean the brain isn't getting enough oxygen.
What to Do
If your child has any breathing problems after getting out of the water, get medical help. Although in most cases the symptoms will go away on their own, it's important to get them checked out.
"The most likely course is that the symptoms are relatively mild and improve over time," says Mark Reiter, MD, past president of the American Academy of Emergency Medicine.
Any problems that do develop are usually treatable if you get medical care right away. Your job is to keep a close eye on your child for the 24 hours after they have had any problems in the water.
If the symptoms don’t go away, or if they get worse, take your child to the emergency room, not your pediatrician's office. "Your child will need a chest X-ray, an IV, and be admitted for observation," says Raymond Pitetti, MD, associate medical director of the emergency department at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. "That can't be done in an office."
If your child has to stay in the hospital, they will probably get "supportive care.” This means that doctors will check their airways and monitor their oxygen level. If your child has severe trouble breathing, they may need to use a breathing tube for a while.
Prevention
The most important thing you can do is help prevent drowning in the first place.
- Always watch closely when your child is in or around water.
- Only allow swimming in areas that have lifeguards.
- Never let your child swim alone.
- Never leave your baby alone near any amount of water -- even in your home.
Enroll yourself and your kids in water safety classes. There are even programs that introduce children 6 months to 3 years of age to the water.
If you have a pool at your home, make sure it's completely fenced.
Teenagers are more likely to have drowning incidents that are related to drugs and alcohol, so teach your kids about the risks, says Mike Gittelman, MD, co-director of the Comprehensive Children's Injury Center at Cincinnati Children's Hospital.
Don’t let your guard down, even if the water isn't deep. Drowning can happen in any kind of water -- bathtubs, toilet bowls, ponds, or small plastic pools.
"Water safety is by far the most important thing," Reiter says.