It is characterized by sudden recurring attacks of labored breathing, chest constriction, and coughing. Your child may have asthma if he or she coughs and sounds wheezy when exhaling. Asthma causes the lining of the airways to swell, and mucus to form in the airways. About five percent of American children under age 15 have asthma. It often causes children to miss school and is twice as common in boys as in girls.
Most children grow out of asthma by the time they reach adulthood.
Asthma attacks can occur quickly and vary in severity. They range from mild discomfort to life-threatening attacks where breathing may stop. They can last from a few minutes to hours, or even days. Allergic reactions to common substances may cause an attack. Examples are pollen, dust, house mites, mold spores, animal fur, dander, feathers, and cigarette smoke.