Asthma in young children

Abstract

Transient wheezing in infancy is more likely to be a function of small airways, and wheezing in the first year of life does not persist as asthma in two-thirds of those afflicted. The bottom line, however, is that no infant or child should be treated with regular courses of antibiotics for chronic chest symptoms, as is currently the vogue. A second misconception is that real asthma in childhood is frequently outgrown. This is not the case: on average only about one third of patients have some symptom relief at the time of puberty. The principles of treatment of young asthmatic children are the same as in the older child and adult. However, there are some special situations, which are discussed in the article.