Parents should not ignore any respiratory symptom, in their toddler, no matter how minor it may seem. As small children, especially toddlers, come down with colds and other viruses, some develop wheezing sounds as they breathe. If your child verbalizes, he may tell you his chest feels tight or "funny." The good news is that most will outgrow wheezing.
Asthma Rare Under 2
A medical diagnosis of asthma in a toddler or baby under the age of two is rare -- many of these children stop having wheezing symptoms after their second birthdays. Listen closely to your child's breathing. If she is wheezing, you will hear a whistling noise coming from her mouth, especially when she is exhaling, says Dr. Asriani Chiu, assistant professor of allergy,
Talk to your doctor about your child's symptoms. If she does not wheeze when she is healthy, her symptoms may only appear when she has a cold or other respiratory infection. If you and your partner have allergies, asthma or eczema, she is more likely to develop asthma and chronic breathing issues.
Persistent Coughing
You may have more cause for worry if your child coughs when he is otherwise healthy -- no cold symptoms, during or after physical activity or during the night. Observe your child for nostril-flaring or shortness of breath. If you see the muscles between his ribs retracting, this is an indicator that he is definitely having a hard time breathing.
Your doctor will want to run tests on your child to either diagnose or rule out asthma. If he presents with symptoms of airway obstruction and responds to an albuterol treatment, the doctor is more likely to diagnose asthma, writes the Children's Hospital Colorado website..
Cystic Fibrosis
Asthma is not the only physical condition that can present with wheezing in a child. Look at the other symptoms your child may be experiencing -- if she suffers from repeated sinus infection, abdominal pain or oily stools, your doctor may make a tentative diagnosis of cystic fibrosis. As you discuss your child's symptoms and condition with the doctor, she will want to take a full history health history for your child.
Heart or Lung Disease
A child with frequent coughing or wheezing, along with a need for supplemental oxygen, rather than leading the doctor to diagnose asthma, instead leads him to think about an interstitial lung disease or a congenital heart problem.
Just as with asthma, these conditions can cause inflammation and an asthma-like wheeze. If your child's doctor hears lung crackles, these are caused by extra lung secretions, similar to asthma. When the doctor begins to suspect a bad lung disease or hypoxia, he looks for clubbing of the fingers-- where the tips flatten and spread.
