Asthma symptoms occur as the child's lungs react to something to which they are sensitive. Inside the lung:
- The many tiny muscles surrounding the air passages tighten, making them narrower than usual.
- The air passages become swollen and more inflamed.
- The swollen air passages produce more mucus, further clogging the already narrow tubes.
This results in the symptoms of asthma:
- Shortness of breath as the child strains to get air into the lungs.
- A wheezing, whistling sound, as the air goes through the narrowed airways.
- Tightness in the chest, sometimes with pain.
- Coughing to get rid of mucus.
- A feeling that the throat is clogged.
