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Diagnosis of Childhood Asthma
Signs and Symptoms of Childhood Asthma
Symptoms of an acute asthma attack usually develop over a period of hours or days. Symptoms tend to be worse at night, and attacks often occur between 2 and 4 am. Symptoms of asthma include:
- Coughing
- Wheezing
- Shortness of breath (dyspnea)
- Chest tightness or pain
- Rapid breathing
- Chest retractions due to labored breathing
- Irritation of the mouth and throat
- Thirst
- Need to urinate
- Tightness of the neck muscles
- Thick stringy mucus (especially at the end of the attack)
- Frequent bouts of weakness or tiredness
After an acute attack, inflammation of the airways persists for days to weeks although no symptoms may be present. This inflammation, however, increases the risk of further attacks, and therefore, must be treated with appropriate medications.
