Breathe easy

Asthma and children
Asthma is more common among children than adults because their airways are smaller and more easily constricted; luckily many grow out of it by their teens. First-borns and only children are most likely to suffer, probably because their immune systems aren't often challenged by contact with other children's germs. For that reason, going to a playgroup from an early age seems to reduce the risk.

Wheezing isn't necessarily a sign of asthma: it can also be caused by conditions such as heart failure, and it affects some people as a dangerous side effect of certain drugs including cold remedies, painkillers and blood-pressure medicine.

Conversely, some asthmatics never wheeze: their main symptom may be breathlessness or a persistent cough. Many children fall into that category, warns asthma nurse-specialist Sue Mercer: 'one symptom is a tightness in the chest, but children describe things differently and may complain of a tummy ache, for example.' Be aware if your child doesn't want to play, or asks to be carried more than usual, which could be a clue that they feel breathless when they're active.

Family history
It's important to get a correct diagnosis. Your GP should ask about your symptoms, your medical history and illnesses in your family, since asthma often runs in families along with eczema and hay fever. You will probably be offered tests such as a Peak Flow Monitor, a device that measures how strongly you're breathing as you blow into a tube.