Difficulty breathing
Breathing fast
Shortness of breath even at rest
Tightness in the chest
Cough
Note: a persistent cough at night is a common sign of asthma, even in children without other symptoms

Symptoms of emergency:

Difficulty breathing
Blue lips and face
Pulse fast
Sweating
Declining level of consciousness, such as severe drowsiness or confusion
Signs and tests back to top

The doctor will use a stethoscope to sound out the lungs, which can hear the sounds associated with asthma. However, lung sounds are usually normal between episodes of asthma.

The tests may include:

Tests of lung function
Measurements of peak flow
Chest x-ray
Blood tests and skin tests for allergies
Arterial blood gas
Counting of eosinophils (a type of white blood cell)
Treatment back to top

The families and their pediatrician or allergy must work together in teams to develop and implement a plan to eliminate the triggers of asthma and monitor symptoms. Alike, should have an emergency plan outlining what should be done when reactive asthma in children.