Symptoms

The symptoms and signs of asthma vary for each individual. Many children with asthma will have periods when they are free of symptoms but this doesn't necessarily mean the asthma has disappeared. Some children will have constant asthma symptoms. For some children with asthma, their symptoms worsen at night and for others, symptoms worsen in the morning. If you have asthma you may get some or all of the following symptoms;

1. Cough
   
   Especially a dry night time cough. A person with asthma's cough often gets worse with exercise. Many people think to be diagnosed with asthma you have to wheeze when you are breathing or struggle to take a proper breath. However, this is not true. In fact, sometimes a cough is the only symptom of asthma.
   
   
2. Difficulty Breathing
   
   Asthma sufferers sometimes say that the difficulty they have breathing is like to trying to breath in and out through a narrow straw in the mouth. Other people with asthma say it feels as though something heavy is sitting on top of their chest, making it very hard to breath. Other signs of asthma include finding it difficult to keep up with other children in the playground, difficulty speaking and in the cases of small babies, difficulty feeding.
    
3. Wheezing
   
   A whistling sound which is more noticeable on breathing out.
   
   
4. Tight Chest
   
   A tight feeling in your chest. Some children will complain of chest pains or in very young children they will mistakenly complain of a tummy pain.
   
   
5. Lack of Energy
   
   Lack of energy during sport and exercise.
   
   
    
6. Change of Skin Colour
   
   During an asthma attack, a blue discolouring of the lips and tongue may occur.

Wear a scarf on cold or foggy days to warm and filter the air you breathe in!