Childhood Asthma

Asthma is often difficult to diagnose in children, especially when they’re younger than age 6. The condition can have similar symptoms to other illnesses. And some children don’t develop symptoms of asthma often, so it can be mistaken for another respiratory condition. In addition, younger children often can’t perform pulmonary function tests that diagnose asthma.

Your child’s pediatrician may diagnose the disease based on your child’s medical history, symptoms and a physical examination. Your child’s provider will ask you if your child has any history of breathing problems. They’ll also ask about any family history of asthma, allergies or other lung diseases. Be sure to describe your child’s symptoms in detail, including when and how often these symptoms have been occurring.

Your child’s pediatrician may refer your child to a specialist, such as a pediatric pulmonologist or a pediatric allergist.

What tests will be done to diagnose asthma in childhood?

If possible, your child’s provider may request a few tests to diagnose asthma. These tests may include:

• Lung (pulmonary) function tests: These tests measure the amount of air in your child’s lungs and how fast they can exhale it (breathe it out). The results will help your child’s provider determine how severe your child’s asthma is.
• Allergy skin testing and blood tests: These can help identify which allergens may be triggering a reaction from your child’s immune system.
• Chest X-ray: Your child’s provider may use imaging tests such as chest X-rays to rule out conditions other than asthma.

Young children usually aren’t able to perform pulmonary function tests. So your child’s provider may suggest trying asthma medications to see how well your child responds.