Wheezing is the whistling sound made by air passing through narrowed airways. About one third of preschool children experience at least one wheezing episode; what matters is whether the episodes recur and the underlying background.

Causes

  • Viral infections: The most common cause of preschool wheezing (RSV, rhinovirus)
  • Allergic predisposition / early asthma
  • Less common: foreign body aspiration (should be considered with sudden-onset, one-sided wheezing), reflux, congenital airway problems

Which Child Is at High Risk of Asthma?

The following features are warning signs for the development of asthma:

  • Asthma in the mother or father
  • Atopic dermatitis (eczema) or food allergy in the child
  • Wheezing developing even without a cold
  • Episodes continuing beyond the age of 3

What Should Be Done?

Every episode should be recorded (trigger, season, duration), the child should be examined during an episode, and in frequently recurring cases preventive treatment together with an allergy assessment should be planned. Sudden-onset respiratory distress, bluish discoloration (cyanosis), and chest retractions require emergency attention.

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Related articles: Allergic bronchitis · RSV and bronchiolitis · Croup

This article is for general information purposes only; it does not replace diagnosis and treatment. For any concerns regarding your child's health, be sure to consult a pediatric specialist.

Uzm. Dr. Hasan Keleş — Specialist in Pediatric Health and Diseases, Gaziantep