Cold & Flu Symptoms Difficulty Breathing and Intercostal Retracting Print By Kristina Duda, RN Updated October 12, 2018 Blend Images/Jose Luis Pelaez Inc/Getty Images More in Cold & Flu Symptoms Prevention Treatment Common Cold Stomach Flu Flu Related Illnesses Retracting is a term used by medical professionals when they are speaking about a physical symptom that a person may experience when they are having difficulty breathing. It is most commonly seen in people with asthma or other chronic lung diseases, but may also occur in children or adults who have a respiratory illness and are having trouble breathing. When looking at the chest of a person with retractions, they may have a skeletal appearance. The skin pulls in and out between each rib with each breath, and you may be able to "count ribs." If the appearance of the ribs is unusual or becomes more pronounced with each breath, the person is probably experiencing retracting. If you suspect retracting or aren't sure because the person is overweight or has a large abdomen, look around the neck and collarbone area. Often it will appear that the skin is being pulled in when breathing in these areas as well. What You Should Do Retracting is a serious sign of difficulty breathing and one that shouldn't be ignored. The more pronounced it is, the more difficulty the person could be having getting adequate oxygen. Retracting can occur in children even if they don't appear to be having trouble with their breathing. It's a sign that a person is working harder to breathe than they should be and may not be getting enough oxygen. If you or your child has no history of asthma or reactive airway disease and you notice retracting, seek medical attention right away. If you or your child has asthma, you are probably familiar with retracting and what it looks like. If you notice it, follow your asthma action plan. If you don't have an asthma action plan and the retracting does not improve after using a fast-acting inhaler or nebulizer treatment, seek medical attention. Retracting may also be referred to as "intercostal retracting." Other Things to Watch For You may not always be able to see a person's ribs if they are having trouble breathing. Other signs to watch for include: wheezing (a high-pitched whistling sound when breathing out)nasal flaringfrequent coughingblue or grayish color on the face or lipsthe appearance that they are using their neck muscles with breathing Children who are having difficulty breathing do not always show signs that adults would recognize. It's important to know what to watch for, even if your child has no history of breathing problems. Retracting is a term you may not be familiar with, but knowing what it is and what to do if you see it could save someone's life. If you are in doubt about what you are seeing, seek medical attention to be safe. Ignoring signs that indicate a person is having a hard time breathing could be life-threatening. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Looking to avoid getting the flu? Our free guide has everything you need to stay healthy this season. Sign up and get yours today. Email Address Sign Up There was an error. Please try again. Thank you, , for signing up. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources "Intercostal Retractions". MedlinePlus 14 May 14. US National Library of Medicine. US Department of Health and Human Services. National Institutes of Health. Continue Reading