Childhood Asthma Symptoms Asthma is the most common chronic disease of childhood. It can begin as early as infancy, though it is difficult to diagnose at that age. With a child not yet old enough to speak, diagnosis depends on parents and caregivers noticing any of the following symptoms: a softer, shorter cry difficulty feeding rapid, noisy breathing chest congestion, tightness wheezing during a respiratory illness coughing after running or crying, especially at night sucked-in looking chest (between ribs and at front of neck) frequent respiratory infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia shortness of breath Older children may exhibit any one or more of these signs in addition to the classic asthma symptoms.   ABOUT THIS PROGRAM | UNDERSTANDING ASTHMA MANAGING YOUR ASTHMA | CHILDREN WITH ASTHMA | FOR MORE INFORMATION | MAIN PAGE   BACK TO HEALTHWORKS © 1998 Prairie Public Broadcasting, Inc.