Signs and symptoms of asthma
If your child has been diagnosed with asthma, you will be educated about how to identify signs and symptoms of an “attack.” If you have any question about the severity of your child's asthma symptoms, contact your physician. Your child's asthma treatment plan may need to be adjusted to both prevent symptoms and treat symptoms when they occur.
Mild asthma symptoms
- Breathing is a little difficult and only slightly faster than usual.
- Your child can easily speak in complete sentences.
- Your child has a slight wheeze, cough, shortness of breath, and/or tightness in the chest.
- Skin color is good.
- Your child is alert and knows what's going on.
- The child is not drawing in the rib cage muscles to breathe.
Moderate asthma symptoms
- Breathing is more difficult and somewhat faster than usual.
- Your child speaks in short phrases because it's hard to breathe.
- Your child has a wheeze, cough, shortness of breath, and/or tightness in the chest.
- Skin color may be normal or pale.
- Your child is alert and knows what's going on.
- Your child is drawing in the rib cage muscles to breathe.
Severe asthma symptoms
Severe asthma symptoms are a medical emergency. If your child is experiencing severe asthma symptoms, seek immediate medical attention.
- Breathing is very fast and difficult OR breathing is very slow and labored.
- Your child speaks in single words or short phrases because it's hard to breathe.
- Your child had has pronounced wheeze, cough, shortness of breath, and/or tightness in the chest.
- Skin color is poor or gray, especially around the lips.
- Your child seems "out of it" and doesn't know what's going on.
- Your child needs to draw in neck, abdomen, and/or chest muscles to breathe.