Hi Shanti,

It certainly could be asthma. What you are describing is what my DD went through & I kept going back to the Dr b/c I thought it was a cough/cold. Each time it was confirmed asthma with the GP just listening to DD chest & back. My DD required a preventer & ventolin as well as Prednisolone (a type of steroid) sometimes.

What I found helped was a vapouriser, dusting & vaccing the house regularly, particularly under beds, behind bookcases etc.... Checking for any mould (we had some on our windows sills in winter due to moisture build up). Touch wood it appears DD now 4.5 yo has outgrown the asthma b/c she hasn't had a symptom at all for the past 12 (?) months.

Check out the Royal Childrens Hospital website for Asthma information too... This is what I found:

'Signs and symptoms
The most common signs of asthma are:

•coughing - which usually happens at night, during the early hours of the morning, when the weather is cool, and during exercise
•wheezing - when breathing sounds like whistles
•breathing problems
If your child has wheezing, coughing or problems breathing, it is important to talk to your doctor about whether it might be asthma.

Symptoms of asthma will often go on for two to three days, or sometimes more. Once the initial attack has improved, your child will need Ventolin three to four times a day until the cough and wheeze are gone.'

Causes
•The cause of asthma is often not known.
•Asthma often runs in families.
•Asthma can be related to other conditions such as eczema, hayfever and allergies
Triggers
There are many different things that can start or trigger an asthma attack. It is not always possible to know when an attack will occur, some common trigger factors are:

•colds - The most common trigger that starts an acute attack of asthma is a respiratory (chest) infection caused by a virus. Virus infections are very common in young children and happen about six to eight times a year, and often more frequently. If your child is prone to asthma they are likely to wheeze and cough at these times. If asthma is triggered by a viral infection your child may have a fever and clear runny nose. Viruses are not killed by antibiotics. Therefore, these medicines are not usually needed for acute/sudden attacks of asthma.
•exercise
•changes in the weather
•cigarette smoke
•house dustmites
•pollens
•pets
It would be helpful for you to know what may trigger asthma in your child, so you can help avoid it where possible.'