ABSTRACT
Acute asthma is one of the commonest reasons for presentation to an emergency department and admission to a hospital. Consider acute asthma when a child presents with signs of increased work of breathing, widespread wheezing and shortness of breath. There are other causes to consider such as Mycoplasma pneumonia, aspiration, inhaled foreign body, and cardiac failure. In the setting of a child with a previous history of asthma or when asthma seems the most likely diagnosis, then perform a primary assessment of severity and institute the initial resuscitation and treatment.
