Is Your Infant or Young Child Wheezing or Coughing? Is it Asthma?

 

Children may wheeze or cough, but is it always asthma? In a young child diagnosing asthma can be a challenge. A physician must often rely on the patient’s history. There are tests for older children and adults, but no tests for infants and young children, but asthma is a recurrent, so a patient’s history that shows repeat occurrences can be an indicator.

Dr. Ruth Gold, allergist at Allergy and Asthma Specialists in Riverdale, NJ suggests tips for track one’s medical history. Keep track of:

• The severity and frequency of symptoms
• What the child is doing when breathing becomes labored
• Whether the difficulty occurs at night or while exercising
• How often the child needs emergency medicine
• How long an attack lasts

It is best to see an asthma specialist for infants and young children to ensure a proper diagnosis and treatment.

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