How Do Kids Describe Their Asthma Symptoms?

It is often difficult to tell what a child is feeling, and they may have a hard time describing symptoms to a parent or the doctor.  A recent study published in the medical journal, Chest, looked at the most common words used by children with moderate to severe asthma, ages 8-15 years, to describe their symptoms of moderate to severe asthma.

The most common descriptions were "My chest feels tight" and "I cannot get enough air in".  This is very similar to the way adults describe their breathlessness.  

But it is important to watch for nonverbal cues that asthma is causing trouble for your child.  Look out for night cough, or a cough triggered by cold drinks, laughter, or running.   Remember also that cough is a more common symptom of asthma than wheezing, which may or may not be heard without the aid of a stethoscope.

Harver A, Schwartzstein RM, Kotses H, et al: Descriptors of breathlessness in children with persistent asthma.  Chest. 2011; 139: 832-838.