Wheezing is very common in young children under three years old, and it does not always indicate asthma. The most common cause of recurrent wheezing in toddlers is viral-triggered wheezing, where a respiratory virus causes the small airways to narrow and produce the characteristic whistling sound on breathing out. Many of these children wheeze with viral infections in the first two to three years of life and then outgrow the tendency as their airways grow larger. However, some children with recurrent wheezing in the toddler years do go on to develop persistent asthma, particularly when there is a family history of asthma or allergy in parents or siblings, when the child has eczema or allergic rhinitis themselves, when wheezing episodes are triggered by allergen exposure or exercise in addition to respiratory infections, or when episodes are frequent, severe, or require emergency treatment. For parents whose toddler has wheezed on two or more occasions, particularly if there has been one episode severe enough to require hospital treatment or nebuliser administration, specialist paediatric assessment is appropriate and worthwhile. At my Child Care and Allergy-Asthma Center, Dhupguri, I assess wheezy toddlers with a detailed history, clinical examination, and, where appropriate, a trial of bronchodilator and anti-inflammatory treatment to assess response, which helps guide whether a diagnosis of early asthma is likely and what ongoing management is needed.
Written by Dr. Debashish Roy, MBBS, MD (Paediatrics), AASC (Allergy Asthma Specialist Course), FAAP (Fellowship in Advanced Allergy Procedures), ICCP (International Certification in Paediatric Pulmonology), Senior Consultant Pediatrician, Allergy and Asthma Specialist, Pediatric Pulmonologist and Immunologist, Founder, Dr. Debashish Roy's Child Care and Allergy-Asthma Center, Ward No. 12, Madhyaara, Santiniketan Road, Purba Daukimari, Dhupguri, West Bengal 735210 (Monday to Sunday, 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM). Also at Basak Medical Hall, Birpara Tea Garden, West Bengal 735204 (Monday to Sunday, 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM). 25+ years. 50,000+ patients. Phone: +91 9732822677 / 9332050468.
