My child has breathing issues, and I'm concerned about asthma. On the National Asthma Council Australia website, what steps would a doctor take to diagnose asthma in a child? What lung function test is typically used for children over 6 years old? Also, what common symptoms in preschoolers might not indicate asthma, according to the Council?
Navigate to the 'Understanding Asthma' section of the website. From the 'Understanding Asthma' section, navigate to the 'Diagnosing asthma' page. On the 'Diagnosing asthma' page, identify the lung function test used for children over 6 years old. Navigate to the 'How is asthma diagnosed in children?' page. Identify and list the key steps a doctor takes to diagnose asthma in a child. Locate and state the common preschooler symptoms that might not indicate asthma, as described on the page.
State the key steps a doctor will take to diagnose asthma in a child, including: asking about symptoms and general health, asking about asthma and allergies in the family, performing a physical examination, looking for other possible medical problems, a trial of asthma medicines, and potential referral to a specialist. Identify and state that a spirometer machine is used for lung function testing in children over 6 years old. State that wheezing and coughing are common in little children and might not indicate asthma if the child is still happy and active and does not seem to be having any problem breathing.