Some of the signs and symptoms of asthma in children are frequent coughing, a chronic cough, less energy during play, rapid breathing, chest tightness, wheezing, loss of breath, and tightened neck and chest muscles.

Jennifer Couceyro, Advanced Registered Nurses Practitioner with Baptist Children’s Hospital, says asthma can vary in children depending on their age and severity. “Things like coughing, whether it is acute or chronic, is one of the first symptoms you see in asthma. Also, rapid breathing or when you see use of accessory muscles, like breathing with their stomach is an indication that this is a more severe attack,” she points out.