Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease that usually occurs during childhood, when the airways in the lungs become inflamed (swollen) and constrict, making breathing difficult. We learn about the most important tests for diagnosing asthma in children, according to the “Reassure yourself” series childrenscolorado.
Diagnosis of asthma in children
To diagnose childhood asthma, the doctor will ask questions about your child’s symptoms, the child’s and family’s medical history, and then perform a physical exam.
The most common test to diagnose asthma is called spirometry. If your child has allergies, the doctor may do an allergy skin test as well.
Tests to diagnose asthma in children
Doctors use a variety of lung function tests to diagnose and treat asthma in children.
Spirometry to test asthma in children
During a spirometry test, your child takes a deep breath and exhales as quickly as possible. It is a painless test and children as young as 5 can take a spirometry.
The test results show the total volume of air they exhale. This shows whether your baby’s airflow from the large and small airways is normal.
If the results are low, the provider may give your child an inhaled medication and then your child repeat the spirometry test 15 minutes later to see if the results improve. This test can help diagnose asthma as well as other lung conditions.
Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction test
Depending on your child and his or her symptoms, the doctor may use other tests to diagnose asthma, including the exercise-induced bronchoconstriction test and the methacholine challenge.
Test EIB This is a series of spirometry tests that children do before and after exercise on a treadmill that measures the reaction of the airway to exercise.
The methacholine challenge uses a gas called methacholine to determine the airway reaction your child breathes in and then performs a series of spirometry tests.
Asthma symptoms in children
Children’s asthma signs and symptoms include:
Coughing a lot
-whistling
Difficulty breathing with exercise
Coughing at night
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Frequent respiratory disease or pneumonia
If your child suffers from any of these symptoms on a regular basis, you should go to the doctor.
