In most cases, wheezing in children is a strong indicator of asthma, but not all wheezes are caused by asthma.
Wheezing in young children may also be caused by:
- bronchiolitis (a contagious viral infection of the small airways);
- cystic fibrosis
- congenital heart disease
- congenital lung disease
- allergies
Some children also have naturally smaller airways. This may be a result of inherited factors, smoking by the mother during pregnancy, maternal viral illness during pregnancy or if the child is born prematurely.
Research shows that not all children who wheeze go on to develop asthma but, if your child has recurrent bronchitis or a cough especially at night or during the early morning, then be on the alert.
Other clues to look out for include:
- If your child gets an anxious look in the eye, draws his shoulders up and you can see the spaces between his ribs, he's struggling to get enough air.
- If your child becomes tired within six to 10 minutes while playing, if his playing slows down, if he avoids action sports or complains of a tight chest, there's a good chance he has asthma.
- A chronic cough, whistling lungs, shortness of breath and shallow breathing are indications. In children a chronic cough is asthma until a doctor proves otherwise. Watch out for a persistent dry cough that starts at about 2am.
- Specialists warn what you might think is the flu or a cold is often asthma.
- Exercise, especially running, often prompts asthma symptoms soon after you begin the activity but taking one or two gulps from a reliever inhaler before you start can make a big difference.
- If your child's asthma symptoms flare up when exposed to irritants or allergens such as cat dander, perfume or tobacco smoke
- If your child's symptoms seem to be season specific and always occur at the same time each year
But it’s difficult to do lung function tests in children until they’re five or six so, if there’s any doubt about whether or not your infant or toddler has asthma, a trial of asthma medication may be helpful. A good response to the medication will suggest that your child is asthmatic.