clinical features of childhood asthma

Last reviewed 01/2018

Between attacks, the child may be asymptomatic with no abnormal physical signs.

Common symptoms of an acute attack include:

• expiratory wheeze and breathlessness
• occasionally cough may be the only symptom
• symptoms are generally worse at night; also most patients may feel chest tightness in the morning
• young children may vomit or have reduced appetite

Signs of an acute attack include:

• child unable speak or to walk due to breathlessness
• intercostal recession and use of accessory muscles
• exhausted child
• wheeze with tachypnoea and tachycardia
• remember the silent chest as an important severe presentation - wheeze and crackles may not be present
• peak flow - not reliable due to poor technique
• a chronic asthmatic may have a Harrison's sulcus