How To Find Asthma In Young Children – AIS Clinic

A major cause of parents visiting clinics for young children under age group of 5 is due to asthma. It is difficult to predict asthma in children less than 5 years of age group as there are many reasons for cough and wheezing.

Wheezing and cough are the symptoms of asthma but not all who wheeze or a cough has asthma. It is quite common in the first year of your baby having these symptoms but this doesn’t mean that your baby has asthma.

Some of the questions every parent has and they should have,

When should I take my child to the doctor?

•  Wheezing that happens more than once (with or without illness)
• Relentless or a sporadic cough, which get worse at night
• Breathlessness

My baby is wheezing – should I be worried? 

It is not that babies who wheeze have asthma or will develop it in later stages of life.

Transient wheezing: Wheezing which stops after 3 years of age.

• This is observed specifically when an infant has a respiratory infection.
• As infants have smaller airways they are likely to make wheezing noise.

As your child grows the airways are widened hence the wheezing will be stopped.

Children continue to wheeze after the age of 3 years whose parents have allergies and the child may often have allergies like

• Hay fever
• Runny nose
• Eczema

Will my child need a special test? 

Special tests like spectrometer tests (Lung function test). However, it is difficult to do for children under 3 years of age. Sometimes it is done through specialists at children’s hospital. Keep a written track of child’s symptoms and thorough assessments will help in diagnosing accurately.

If it’s not asthma, what else could it be? 

– Bronchiolitis

• Is mild and gets better without treatment
• Rarely needs hospitalization when severe

– Mild Cough

– Cold

– Runny nose

– Sore throat

– Noisy breathing

– Hoarse voice

– Barking cough

– Croup Affects

• Larynx
• Trachea Commonly affects children from 6 months to 3 years.

Be informed 

It can be annoying for parents of young children to find out what’s happening with their children. It is stressful for parents to consult doctors.

It is important to take time and explain doctor about the symptoms of your child.

If you have any questions you can consult Dr. Vishal, A well known Asthma specialist in Goa founder of AIS Clinic or you can have video chat with him quickly or you can call up at 0832-2724220.

Save these contact details for your emergency.

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