It has even been misdiagnosed as bronchitis or pneumonia. Whatever it is called, what happens is the lining of the airways becomes inflamed. There is more mucus produced and the airways become obstructed and constricted. This makes it very difficult to get air in and out of the lungs. The inflammation is the result of coming in contact with an allergen or trigger.
Different people have different triggers.
Some common triggers are exercise, cigarette smoke, cold air, cat and dog dander, mold, pollen, or grass. Even yelling or laughing may trigger an asthma attack. Of these, exercise is the most common trigger. Typically, a child having an asthma attack will have difficulty breathing. He will usually assume a classic sitting position. leaning forward to use all the accessory muscles to help him breathe.