An infant or child with respiratory distress will attempt to keep his or her alveoli expanded at the end of inhalation by:

An infant or child experiencing respiratory distress often employs specific behaviors to enhance their breathing and maintain lung function. When a child is grunting, they are attempting to create positive end-expiratory pressure in the alveoli. This is a physiological response to keep the alveoli expanded at the end of inhalation, which helps improve oxygenation and is a sign of significant respiratory effort.

Grunting occurs when a child exhales against a closed glottis, which prevents air from escaping freely. This mechanism serves to prevent the collapse of the air sacs in the lungs (alveoli) during the next inhalation, thus aiding in oxygen exchange. It is a compensatory mechanism seen in instances of respiratory distress, particularly when there is underlying lung or airway pathology.

Other responses, like assuming a tripod position, are strategies to improve airflow and use the muscles more effectively but do not directly assist in keeping alveoli expanded. Wheezing indicates airway constriction and does not signify an effort to hold the alveoli open. Retracting intercostal muscles shows that the child is struggling to breathe, yet this action does not focus on maintaining the expansion of alveoli at the end of inhalation. The ability to recognize these signs can help in managing respiratory distress effectively.