Wheeze – a whistling sound produced by the airways during breathing – is one of the most common reasons behind family visits to the GP or emergency department.
Almost 50 per cent of preschool children will experience at least one episode of wheeze, with some of those children having symptoms severe enough to warrant medical attention.
It can be scary seeing your child struggling to breathe, but how can you tell the difference between a temporary problem and something more serious?
We spoke with Respiratory physician and The Kids Research Institute Australia lung health researcher Dr André Schultz, who has seen hundreds of wheezy kids over the course of his 22-year career.
What causes wheeze?
The most common cause of wheeze in babies and small children is a viral infection.
Dr Schultz says the wheezing sound occurs when a baby or child is breathing out through narrow airways.
“Something as simple as the common cold can cause swelling in the airways, and because the airways in babies and children are a lot smaller and narrower than those of adults, the little bit of swelling can cause narrowing and even blocking off of smaller airways,” Dr Schultz says.
“This can result in the baby or child having trouble getting the air to where it’s needed. The wheezing is the sound of air going through narrow passageways as they breathe.”
Other potential causes of wheeze include asthma, which could in turn be related to allergies.
What should I do if my child is wheezing or struggling to breathe?
See the National Asthma Council of Australia’s Asthma Action Plan for detailed information on symptoms and when to see your doctor, however you should seek immediate medical attention – dial 000 for ambulance – if your child is exhibiting danger signs such as:
- symptoms getting worse very quickly
- severe shortness of breath – unable to speak properly or lips look blue
- use of a reliever inhaler (if your child has one) provides little or no relief.
Will the wheezing go away?
Some children may have recurrent or severe episodes of wheeze, whilst for others the wheeze will be transient and will resolve when the viral infection clears up.
“About 70 per cent of preschool aged children with wheezing symptoms/illness will grow out of it by the age of six years,” Dr Schultz says. “Those who don’t are more likely, but not guaranteed, to have ongoing symptoms into adulthood.”
Does my child’s wheeze automatically mean they have asthma?
Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease which affects around one in eight children. It begins in children as a wheeze – but as noted above, not all young children who wheeze go on to develop asthma.
“There is currently no good test to diagnose asthma in young children,” Dr Schultz says. “This means that many children are unlikely to receive a formal diagnosis until at least six years of age.
“This inability to be sure whether a young child with recurrent wheeze has asthma or simply a transient problem means clinicians may choose to treat recurrent wheezers with asthma medication as a precaution. This means some kids are taking medications they don’t really need – while others may be missing out on treatment that they do need.
“Our team at The Kids is currently investigating whether a simple urine test might be able to predict whether children with wheezing symptoms will go on to develop asthma or whether their wheeze will resolve over time.
“We hope this will help us to not only understand a lot more about wheeze and asthma, but ensure that children with wheeze get more appropriate treatment.”
To find out more about the study, or get involved, head here.