Natick Pediatrics, PC

Does My Child Have Asthma?

Asthma is a scary diagnosis. It’s scary because a few children, thankfully very few, die of asthma every year. It’s also scary because cases of asthma are increasing year by year.

It’s unfortunate that there is so much fear surrounding asthma, because most cases of asthma are easy to treat with safe medications. The key to treating asthma successfully is identifying the symptoms and making the correct diagnosis.

To make the diagnosis of asthma you need a doctor. If you have any worries at all that your child may have asthma you should tell your child’s doctor. With enough information, a good physical exam, and possibly some extra testing, your doctor will be able very often to tell whether your child has asthma. Many patients, however, don’t know what pieces of information are important. Below I’ve listed a set of symptoms and items of medical history that your child’s doctor may find important.

First, a note of caution: Most children don’t read medical textbooks. That is to say, many children with asthma do not fit the classic textbook definition of asthma. On the other hand, some children who seem to fit the classic definition in fact have conditions other than asthma. Only your child’s doctor or an asthma specialist can sort this out.

What are the typical symptoms of asthma?

Wheezing: This is an abnormal sound that occurs when the child exhales. It is a high-pitched whistling sound that is produced by air rushing through narrow breathing tubes.
Chronic Cough: Many children with asthma never wheeze, but they will cough. Any cough in a child that lasts 3 weeks or more should be looked into further.
Night-time symptoms: Many children with asthma cough or wheeze at night. Some children are even awakened at night by these symptoms.

What triggers these symptoms?

Head colds: This is probably the most common trigger of wheezing in children.
Exposure to things the child is allergic to. The major players are pet dander and cockroaches. Many children are allergic to dust mites that live in the child’s mattress.
Exercise and hyperventilation. For small asthmatic children who do not engage in vigorous exercise, laughing or even crying can produce wheezing or coughing.
Irritants such as cigarette smoke or fumes
Changes in weather, especially cold air or humidity

Family History

Do allergies or asthma run in the family? A child of an asthmatic parent will not necessarily develop asthma. There is only an increased chance of developing asthma.
Does either parent have a "bronchial condition"? Many adults have been diagnosed as having repeated bouts of bronchitis, or they report that whenever they develop a cold it "goes into their chest" or they become "bronchial". Many of these adults in fact have asthma. Again, even if this is the case, it does not mean that their children will develop asthma.
Did anyone have asthma as a child and "grow out of it"? An entire article could be written on the issue of growing out of asthma. Suffice to say that many of my patients with asthma have parents who tell me that they "had" asthma as children but grew out of it.
Did the mother smoke during pregnancy? Most people are familiar with the research on second-hand smoke, but it turns out that exposure to products of cigarette smoke in utero can also cause children to wheeze.
Does anyone in the family have eczema? Eczema and asthma are often related. In some of my patients’ families, there are children with asthma and other children with eczema. Some unlucky children get both.

Of course, you cannot diagnose asthma in your child by reading an article. But if your child has any of the symptoms listed above, especially if the condition runs in your family, you might consider mentioning this to your child’s doctor.

Today there is no reason why a child with asthma cannot live a totally normal life, and engage in the same activities as his or her non-asthmatic peers, including participation in sports at the highest levels. If childhood asthma is correctly diagnosed and treated appropriately, it is nothing to be afraid of.

Lincoln Medical Building
61 Lincoln Street, Suite 210
Framingham, MA 01702

(508) 655-9699
(508) 655-2984 fax

Updated: 5/22/03

Does My Child Have Asthma?

Asthma is a scary diagnosis. It’s scary because a few children, thankfully very few, die of asthma every year. It’s also scary because cases of asthma are increasing year by year.

It’s unfortunate that there is so much fear surrounding asthma, because most cases of asthma are easy to treat with safe medications. The key to treating asthma successfully is identifying the symptoms and making the correct diagnosis.

To make the diagnosis of asthma you need a doctor. If you have any worries at all that your child may have asthma you should tell your child’s doctor. With enough information, a good physical exam, and possibly some extra testing, your doctor will be able very often to tell whether your child has asthma. Many patients, however, don’t know what pieces of information are important. Below I’ve listed a set of symptoms and items of medical history that your child’s doctor may find important.

First, a note of caution: Most children don’t read medical textbooks. That is to say, many children with asthma do not fit the classic textbook definition of asthma. On the other hand, some children who seem to fit the classic definition in fact have conditions other than asthma. Only your child’s doctor or an asthma specialist can sort this out.

What are the typical symptoms of asthma?

Wheezing: This is an abnormal sound that occurs when the child exhales. It is a high-pitched whistling sound that is produced by air rushing through narrow breathing tubes.
Chronic Cough: Many children with asthma never wheeze, but they will cough. Any cough in a child that lasts 3 weeks or more should be looked into further.
Night-time symptoms: Many children with asthma cough or wheeze at night. Some children are even awakened at night by these symptoms.

What triggers these symptoms?

Head colds: This is probably the most common trigger of wheezing in children.
Exposure to things the child is allergic to. The major players are pet dander and cockroaches. Many children are allergic to dust mites that live in the child’s mattress.
Exercise and hyperventilation. For small asthmatic children who do not engage in vigorous exercise, laughing or even crying can produce wheezing or coughing.
Irritants such as cigarette smoke or fumes
Changes in weather, especially cold air or humidity

Family History

Do allergies or asthma run in the family? A child of an asthmatic parent will not necessarily develop asthma. There is only an increased chance of developing asthma.
Does either parent have a "bronchial condition"? Many adults have been diagnosed as having repeated bouts of bronchitis, or they report that whenever they develop a cold it "goes into their chest" or they become "bronchial". Many of these adults in fact have asthma. Again, even if this is the case, it does not mean that their children will develop asthma.
Did anyone have asthma as a child and "grow out of it"? An entire article could be written on the issue of growing out of asthma. Suffice to say that many of my patients with asthma have parents who tell me that they "had" asthma as children but grew out of it.
Did the mother smoke during pregnancy? Most people are familiar with the research on second-hand smoke, but it turns out that exposure to products of cigarette smoke in utero can also cause children to wheeze.
Does anyone in the family have eczema? Eczema and asthma are often related. In some of my patients’ families, there are children with asthma and other children with eczema. Some unlucky children get both.

Of course, you cannot diagnose asthma in your child by reading an article. But if your child has any of the symptoms listed above, especially if the condition runs in your family, you might consider mentioning this to your child’s doctor.

Today there is no reason why a child with asthma cannot live a totally normal life, and engage in the same activities as his or her non-asthmatic peers, including participation in sports at the highest levels. If childhood asthma is correctly diagnosed and treated appropriately, it is nothing to be afraid of.

Natick Pediatrics, PC
Lincoln Medical Building
61 Lincoln Street, Suite 210
Framingham, MA 01702

(508) 655-9699
(508) 655-2984 fax

Updated: 5/22/03