ABSTRACT
Diagnosing asthma in a preschool-age child can be a challenging endeavor. First and foremost, many preschool-age children with recurrent episodes of wheezing will “outgrow” their asthma. Diagnostic studies such as spirometry, bronchial challenge testing, and exhaled nitric oxide that are used to support the diagnosis of asthma are often not feasible in the preschool-age child. Recurrent or persistent respiratory symptoms often prompt consideration of a diagnosis of asthma. The most frequent presenting symptom is recurrent wheeze. The characteristic asthma cough is described as dry and it will often respond to bronchodilator therapy. Persistent cough apart from a viral illness, especially nocturnal cough, is consistent with a diagnosis of asthma and a frequent nocturnal cough may be associated with a more severe disease. Infants and young children who have both atopic dermatitis and a recurrent respiratory wheeze are at an increased risk for developing asthma.
