Asthma Symptoms in Children

Common Symptoms

• Coughing:

  • Persistent dry cough
  • Often worsens at night
  • Can be the sole symptom of asthma

• Shortness of Breath:

  • Trouble breathing or catching breath
  • Similar to feeling after running

• Chest Pain:

  • May be reported as a tummy ache by small children due to confusion between chest and stomach pain

• Wheezing:

  • Whistling sound in the chest during breathing
  • Not all children experience wheezing during an asthma attack

Severe Symptoms (Emergency Signs)

• Retractions:
  • Skin gets sucked in around the neck or ribs
• Other severe signs include:
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Lips or fingernails turning blue or gray
  • Unresponsiveness

Action Steps

• Call 911 if severe symptoms are present.