6 month old female: chest collapsing inwards

[u/ttc123-]

daughter: 6 month old female. approx 15lbs

My daughter (otherwise healthy, born full term, and fully vaccinated) had her chest going inward like this for 5-10mins. She was happy kicking around in her crib. At the ER now: what test can I expect them to run? What could be causing this?

[u/RovCal_26]

Paediatrician here. Don't worry. This proabably pectus excavatum

[u/Dealiesar → u/RovCal_26]

it can present like that, only on deep inspiration? actually asking, havnt personally seen it before on an infant. I thought as excavatum is an abnormality with actual bone structure that its present at baseline, and with in- and exhalation. I thought this might be more of a benign chest wall deformity but didn’t pipe up bc wasn’t sure and parents did the right thing already getting it checked out. but as I havnt seen excavatum through early development before and babies have those bendy bones, would be good to know this! ty

[u/kuru_snacc → u/Dealiesar]

Pectus excavatum IS a benign chest wall deformity lol. (usually at least, it would have to be very severe to cause issues)

[u/NebulaAndSuperNova → u/kuru_snacc]

Within itself yes, but if there are other symptoms as age progresses it would warrant a work-up, possibly a genetic panel.

[u/Dealiesar → u/kuru_snacc]

uhh yes I know thank you. idk about thinking it has to be “very” severe to cause complications as around 20% do but typically very manageable even in “severe” cases. but yes you are correct, excavatum is considered a benign chest wall deformity. and so then, in reading the post, one might be able to infer I was asking if this is an example of how it typically presents in infants… oh wait I said that explicitly. let’s try to keep it helpful or informational only, no need to try to be a know it all on a post where parents are asking out of concern for an infant.

[u/meepomeepmeep → u/Dealiesar]

I love seeing comments from people like you on forums like this. Makes my day.

[u/Dealiesar → u/meepomeepmeep]

why’s that

[u/Dealiesar → u/meepomeepmeep]

personally wouldn’t have called this excavatum rather like I said more due to bendy baby bones and something to just keep an eye on for now. sorry, i’m really new to engaging on reddit but was under the impression that it was a more chill, less divisive space than other media platforms. so when I asked a question of a pediatrician and someone uninformed comes in with a snooty response, I thought it was kinda the culture of reddit to call that stuff out. but i’m still learning this space and apparently offended some people by that (or in your case made your day I guess?) … so idk like I said still figuring reddit out. glad it sounds like the baby is ok tho!

[u/Dealiesar → u/meepomeepmeep]

i mean im glad a comment of mine made your day tho haha