Persistent Coughing

• The most common symptom of asthma in young children is persistent coughing. If your child has been coughing persistently for more than two weeks, talk with a doctor.
  
  

Nighttime Coughing

• Recurrent nighttime coughing is a red flag for childhood asthma because asthma symptoms often worsen at night. Report nighttime coughing to the doctor.
  
  

Exercise Coughing

• If your child frequently coughs after running or crying, he might have asthma. Talk with your doctor about this symptom.
  
  

Frequent Bronchitis

• Children with asthma often suffer from bronchitis or other respiratory infections. If your child is frequently sick with respiratory issues, ask the doctor about asthma.
  
  

Lung Function Tests

• If your doctor suspects childhood asthma, she might run some lung function tests to measure the air volume in your child's lungs. Very young children might have trouble participating in these tests.