Between attacks, the child may be asymptomatic with no abnormal physical signs.
Common symptoms of an acute attack include:
- expiratory wheeze and breathlessness
- occasionally cough may be the only symptom
- symptoms are generally worse at night; also most patients may feel chest tightness in the morning
- young children may vomit or have reduced appetite
Signs of an acute attack include:
- child unable speak or to walk due to breathlessness
- intercostal recession and use of accessory muscles
- exhausted child
- wheeze with tachypnoea and tachycardia
- remember the silent chest as an important severe presentation - wheeze and crackles may not be present
- peak flow - not reliable due to poor technique
- a chronic asthmatic may have a Harrison's sulcus