You’ll need your doctor’s help. Asthma can be difficult to diagnose in children younger than 2, because conditions other than asthma can cause wheezing or wheezing-like sounds. In fact, viral respiratory infections are probably the most common cause of wheezing in babies and young children. More…

Asthma is the most common serious chronic childhood disease, and it’s the third most frequent cause of hospitalization in children under 15 years of age. More…

Yes, other possible triggers include cold air, viral infections (such as the common cold), tobacco smoke and other air pollutants, or just plain running around. More…

Exposure to allergens such as dust mites, cockroaches, mold, pollens, or animal dander can trigger or worsen symptoms in some children with asthma. This is referred to as allergic asthma. Seasonal allergies to outdoor pollens (also called hay fever) won’t usually be a problem until your child is 4 or 5, because it can take that long to develop a sensitivity to them. More…

If your toddler has an acute asthma attack, the lining of his airways will become even more inflamed and produce more mucus. Then the muscles around his airways will tighten and his breathing tubes will narrow. He may breathe rapidly, cough, or wheeze (make a whistling sound) as his breath is forced through the narrowed airways. More…