Signs & Symptoms of Baby Asthma

Baby asthma can be difficult to detect and can only be officially diagnosed by a doctor. However, there are signs and symptoms that may be an indication that your infant is struggling with asthma. If any, or all, of the following symptoms are being observed in your infant, a doctor's visit is warranted.

Coughing

• Babies with asthma will cough often. This coughing most typically takes place at night or after activity (such as laughing or crawling). This coughing can also occur at other occasions throughout the day however. The cough may be a dry or wet cough and will be chronic.

Shortness of Breath

• Regular activities that are causing a shortness of breath (but normally would not do so), such as crawling or crying, is another possible symptom of baby asthma. This shortness of breath may manifest as labored breathing or short, shallow breaths.

Wheezing

• Wheezing is a whistling sound. It is heard when the baby breathes in and out and is caused by a constricted airway. Wheezing is typically heard on exhalation but may also be heard during the inhalation as well.

Allergies

• Asthma is often closely related to allergies. Babies with allergy problems will often have accompanying asthma. The asthma may start out as an allergy attack, complete with sneezing, watery eyes and a dripping nose but will then progress into the labored and wheezy breathing as mentioned above.

Eczema

• Eczema is a skin rash that appears on the forehead, scalp and cheeks. It may also spread to other parts of the body including the arms and chest. It looks like tiny, red blisters or it may look like dry, scaly skin. Although eczema is not always a symptom of baby asthma, sometimes it is an indication that it exists.