What parents should know about 'dry drowning'

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A rare medical condition known as dry drowning has recently alarmed parents of young children, after a four-year-old died and another two-year-old's life was saved in the United States.

The two cases have hit headlines in US media, after four-year-old Francisco Delgado died on June 3, six days after a swimming trip with his family in Texas during which he inhaled some water.

The boy complained about feeling unwell in his stomach afterwards, but his parents did not take it seriously until a week later, when he suddenly woke up in pain and died moments later.

The doctor called the death an example of "dry drowning", and nothing else could have been done to save Delgado, whose lungs were full of fluid.

Mother plays with children at an open air swimming pool. /VCG Photo

Delgado's case caught the attention of Garon Vega, whose two-year-old son Gio complained about head pain shortly after swimming last week. The boy had also consumed a small amount of water, the New York Daily News reported on Monday.

Gio's head pain developed into a persistent fever and cough. His father researched the symptoms online and came across Delgado's story.

The Vegas, who live in Colorado, immediately took their son to hospital, where a "significant amount of fluid" was found in the boy's lungs.

The father said it was little Francisco's story that saved his son in time. "If we had waited the night, he probably wouldn't have made it," the father told local TV station KTRK.

Swimming is a popular hobby for children during the summer months. /VCG Photo

Dry drowning does not only occur in swimming pools but can be caused by any body of water, including the bathtub at home. The reports of the rare but fatal medical condition has alarmed parents, becoming a trending search topic online.

Dry drowning can occur hours after a child experienced a near-drowning incident, such as inhaling a few gasps of water through the mouth or nostrils, which will lead to water in the lungs, according to a report by USA Today.

Dry drowning incidents are rare but it's best for parents to be overcautious, because if untreated it can lead to brain injury, respiratory problems or even death, USA Today quoted experts as saying.

According to the New York Daily News, some symptoms of dry drowning include coughing, chest pain, trouble breathing and fatigue, all of which indicates that the brain and body lack enough oxygen and the person needs proper medical attention.

（Source: Xinhua)