It is a sad fact that childhood asthma often goes undiagnosed.

Childhood asthma is an increasing health concern both in the U.S. and around the world. If a boy or girl is experiencing inflammation of the main air passages of the lungs, the bronchial tubes, then he or she may be experiencing the chronic condition of childhood asthma. Yet, the signs and symptoms are often hard to detect.

It is a sad fact that this condition often goes undiagnosed. Symptoms of include wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath. However, often these signs are mislabeled as a cold or bronchitis.

You should know that there are certain clues you should be looking for if you suspect that your son or daughter is suffering from this condition. A cough that seems to rattle the chest, rapid breathing, and frequent chest colds are tell-tale signs.

While it's untrue that anger or anxiety causes this condition, certain emotions can worsen the symptoms. As a result, if a child coughs after running and appears irritable for no reason, he or she may be sufferer.

If it goes undiagnosed, it can cause a child problems in school or interfere with extracurricular activities. Because of the night-time coughing that often accompanies he illness, children may find it difficult to concentrate in school or at sports events because of fatigue.

If you suspect your son or daughter is suffering from this condition, it's important to obtain a physician's opinion as soon as possible. In fact, you should make an immediate appointment with a pediatrician if your child experiences such childhood asthma symptoms as constant coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and tightness in the chest.

Childhood asthma can lead to attacks which can be both frightening and dangerous. Those sufferers who experience an attack may find it impossible to talk and may have a rapid heart rate, profuse perspiration, and chest pain. An attack usually starts with coughing and ends with wheezing.

Physicians categorize attacks as mild, moderate, and severe. If an attack is severe, it is a medical emergency and requires immediate medical care. Still, it's one thing to suspect your child is a sufferer--it's another thing to get an accurate diagnosis.

When attempting to determine if your son or daughter is experiencing this problem, your pediatrician will ask about episodes of coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, increased heart rate, and abnormal skin color. A family history of the illness can also be a key indicator.

If a physician suspects allergies to be the cause of a cause, he or she may ask your child to undergo a skin or blood test. The doctor may also have your child breathe into a machine that can help diagnose the condition. A low level of airflow may be a sign that child is a sufferer.