Recognizing that asthma is difficult to diagnose in children under age 5, the nation's allergists are alerting parents to the warning signs of the most common chronic childhood disease. The disease affects an estimated 9 million children.

Symptoms of asthma in young children include:

• Coughing, especially at night
• Whistling or wheezing sounds when a child breathes out
• Labored breathing
• Skin around ribs or neck pulling in tightly when a child tries to breathe
• Frequent colds or other respiratory illnesses

According to allergist John Winder, M.D., chair of the Nationwide Asthma Screening Program, it can be difficult for parents to know if their child has asthma since so many of these symptoms are very similar to a cold, bronchitis or another infection. But parents should be on the watch. If symptoms appear - and especially if they are reoccurring - it is time to see a doctor for diagnosis and treatment.

Asthma is diagnosed based on a medical history, physical examination and a lung function test. Since the lung function test involves blowing forcefully into a tube, it's usually not used in children under age 6. An allergist, an asthma specialist, is trained to recognize asthma symptoms and differentiate between the disease and other conditions.

To learn more about childhood asthma, visit the Medem Medical Library for information including:

• Recognizing Asthma in Your Young Child
• Medem Learning Center: Children and Asthma

(Source: American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology)