From the Guidelines
Asthma symptoms in children typically include wheeze, cough, and breathing difficulty.
Key Symptoms
- Wheeze: a high-pitched whistling sound while breathing out, which is a key symptom of asthma 1
- Cough: worse at night, and can be a symptom of asthma, but chronic cough alone is unlikely to be asthma 1
- Breathing difficulty: recurrent difficulty in breathing, which can be a symptom of asthma 1
Other Symptoms
- Chest tightness
- Symptoms that occur or worsen with:
- Exercise
- Viral infection
- Inhalant allergens
- Irritants
- Changes in weather
- Strong emotional expression
- Stress
- Menstrual cycles
- At night, awakening the patient 1 It is essential to note that these symptoms can be nonspecific and may represent episodes of viral respiratory tract infections, making diagnosis based on symptoms alone challenging 1. A detailed medical history and physical examination, along with objective tests such as spirometry, are recommended to establish a diagnosis of asthma 1.
From the Research
Symptoms of Asthma in Children
The symptoms of asthma in children can vary, but common characteristics include:
- Wheezing, commonly accompanied by difficulty breathing and cough 2, 3, 4, 5
- Recurrent episodes of wheezing and/or cough triggered by a viral upper respiratory infection, activity, or changes in weather 4, 5
- Episodes triggered in the absence of infection, such as wheezing and coughing during exercise or during laughing or crying 4, 5
- Prolonged recovery from respiratory symptoms after a viral upper respiratory infection 4, 5
Diagnostic Considerations
Asthma diagnosis in children should be considered when:
- Frequent (≥8 days/month) asthma-like symptoms or recurrent (≥2) exacerbations (episodes with asthma-like signs) are present 2, 3
- There is objective documentation of signs or convincing parent-reported symptoms of airflow obstruction, with improvement in these signs or symptoms with asthma therapy, and no clinical suspicion of an alternative diagnosis 2, 3
Trigger Avoidance
Avoiding triggers identified by history, such as: