How to spot asthma symptoms in your child
How to spot asthma symptoms in your child
What asthma symptoms look like in children and how to spot them
I’m Debbie, a respiratory nurse specialist at Asthma + Lung UK.
If you’re worried your child might have asthma, but you’re not sure whether to talk to your doctor about it, here are the things to look out for.
There are four main symptoms of asthma: coughing, wheezing, chest tightness and breathlessness. A combination of these symptoms makes asthma more likely.
Children get coughs all the time, so how do you know if it could be asthma? When your child coughs is a sign. Children with asthma often cough at night, in the early morning, after exercise, or when they’re excited or laughing.
Another sign is if your child has had a cough for a long time and it won’t go away. A wheeze is a whistling sound in your child’s chest, usually when they breathe out.
A wheeze is not the same as other chesty noises and is often hard to hear. Even your nurse or doctor might need to use a stethoscope. So if you can’t hear a wheeze, but your child has other symptoms I’d still recommend talking to your doctor about asthma.
Chest tightness is another sign. This one’s not so easy to notice. In my experience, children with chest tightness often rub their tummy or chest.
If they can talk, they might say things like, ‘I have a tummy ache’ or ‘my chest hurts’.
Breathlessness is another symptom to look out for. It’s normal for children to get a bit breathless when they’re running around and playing. So how do you know if it’s something to worry about?
Firstly, you might notice that their breathing is faster or that they have to try a bit harder to breathe. You may be able to see more of their body moving, for example moving their shoulders up and down. When they’re playing, you might notice they get more out of breath or stay out of breath for longer than other children, or that symptoms carry on afterwards. Sometimes they might get breathless even when they’re not exercising or being active. And finally, they might start avoiding exercise because they don’t like the symptoms.
As a parent or carer, it’s easy to feel that you’re worrying too much or that you’ll be bothering your doctor. But I would always want to know if one of my patients was getting these symptoms. The right treatment could help your child’s cough, wheeze, tight chest or breathlessness, so it really is worth getting them seen.
If you have any questions about your child’s symptoms, speak to your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist. You can also call our helpline.
What are the symptoms of asthma in children?
Asthma often starts during childhood. If your child has asthma, there might be times when they find it hard to breathe. Their symptoms might be worse at night and early in the morning.
Children can behave differently when they have asthma symptoms. They might be quieter, worried, angry, or more distracted than normal.
Ask your GP about asthma if your child sometimes has one or more of these symptoms. A combination of symptoms makes asthma more likely.
Wheezing
Wheezing is a continuous high-pitched whistling sound that you may hear when your child breathes. Wheezing is different from other chesty noises. Your child's GP might listen to their chest with a stethoscope to see if they can hear any wheezing when they breathe in or out.
Cough
Most coughs will go away on their own within two to three weeks. See your child's GP if they have a cough that:
- does not go away or keeps coming back
- happens because of a particular activity or trigger
- happens during and after playing or exercising
- starts if there are changes in temperature or humidity
- starts if they're excited, laughing or crying.
Find out more about your child's cough and wheeze.
Breathlessness
If your child is breathless they might:
- breathe more quickly
- wheeze or find it hard to take big breaths
- move their body more when they breathe
- have trouble talking, eating, or playing
- be out of breath for a long time after crying or laughing.
Tight chest
Young children might describe their tight chest as a 'tummy ache' or 'sore tummy'. Lots of people have told us they've noticed their child rubbing their tummy or chest.
Allergies
If your child has allergies or an allergy-related condition, like eczema or hay fever, they're more likely to develop asthma. Allergies to food or pollen can sometimes trigger your child's asthma symptoms.
As a parent, it's easy to feel that you’re worrying too much, or that you'll be bothering your doctor. But children can become unwell quickly, so it's important to seek help in good time and not leave it too late.
Call 999 if your child:
- has difficulty breathing
- their chest, tummy or the front of their throat is sucking in
- their ribs stand out
- can't talk or eat because they're so breathless
- is more quiet or agitated than usual
- their reliever inhaler, if your child has one, isn't working.
Remember, you know your child best. Calling 999 will help your child get the support they need. Read more about asthma attacks in children.
Keep a symptom diary
Asthma symptoms can come and go, so keeping a symptom diary can help you explain your child's symptoms to their GP. Keeping a list of everything you want to ask your child's GP can also be helpful.
Write down your child's symptoms and when they happen:
- the date
- the time of day. For example, at night time or early in the morning
- the month or season. For example, did their symptoms appear for the first time in spring or summer when pollen counts were high?
- anything that triggers your child's symptoms, or makes them better or worse
- your child's symptoms like coughing, wheezing, or if they feel out of breath
- how often your child's symptoms happen and how long they last.
The symptom diary will help you and your child's GP to understand:
- if your child's symptoms come and go
- if your child's symptoms are worse at certain times of the day
- how often your child has symptoms
- if anything triggers your child's symptoms, like cold air, pollen or animals. Read more about asthma triggers.
Suggestion: Use your phone to video your child's symptoms
If your child is well enough and you're comfortable doing so, you could take a video of them while they're experiencing symptoms. Showing this to the GP can be helpful if they're feeling well at the appointment.
Getting a GP appointment
Your GP can help if your child has any asthma symptoms. Booking an appointment as soon as possible will make sure they get the help they need.
We know it can be difficult to get a GP appointment. You can explain how urgent the situation is by telling the GP surgery, "My child is having trouble breathing." Mentioning your child's age might also help you to get an appointment. We have other advice to help you get a GP appointment.
If you're worried about your child's symptoms and your GP surgery is closed, call 111 to get help right away.
Get support
Call our Helpline for support with your condition. Get advice on your medicines, symptoms or travelling with a lung condition, or just call us to say hello.
