Trends with Age: Respiratory rate is fastest in newborns and decreases with age. A
normal resting respiratory rate in an infant less than one year ranges from 30 to 60 bpm.
Over time respiratory rate gradually decreases, and reaches approximately normal adult
ranges by about age 13. A normal resting respiratory rate in an adolescent is 12 to 16
bpm.
Tachypnea, or an elevated RR, is a sign of respiratory distress and is the body’s
physiologic response to hypoxemia, hypercarbia or pyrexia. The differential for
tachypnea is large, but includes pulmonary conditions such as
infection/inflammation/obstruction of the airways, trauma or pneumothorax. Nonpulmonary
causes of tachypnea include cyanotic heart disease, heart failure with
pulmonary edema, metabolic acidosis or severe anemia. Bradypnea in children is rare,
but usually suggests a central lesion, such as a central nervous system insult or
intoxication like an opioid overdose.