The signs and symptoms of asthma can make it difficult for the person to breathe. Even before asthma is diagnosed, the parent of an effected child may recognize asthma signs and symptoms. In young children who cannot express how they feel, the parents may mistake the symptoms for the onset of a cold, especially if the child is coughing and the parent does not recognize coughing as a symptom of asthma.
Coughing is a common sign of asthma. The coughing of someone with asthma can be worse in the mornings and evenings. Coughing can also be worse after exercise.

A person with asthma may experience wheezing. The wheezing associated with asthma is usually an audible, but faint whistle or squeaking while breathing. The wheezing may occur in conjunction with other symptoms of asthma.

The tightness in the chest may be difficult for the parent of a young child to recognize as asthma. Toddlers or young children having tightness in their chest may stop and grab their chest while running or playing. A young child may say that their chest hurts. A parent cannot witness this symptom as easily as a cough or wheezing, so it can make it difficult for a parent to understand what might be happening. A toddler or young child may end up going for heart tests when the problem is actually asthma. An older child may be better equipped to describe the sensation and say that it feels like someone is sitting on their chest or that they can’t inhale.

The shortness of breath may be the sign that parents recognize most easily in a child with asthma. People with asthma may have difficulty catching their breath. Sometimes, this seems to occur at random times while other people may only experience this symptom after exercise. If it is only experienced after exercise, it may be mistaken for a normal reaction to overexertion.

If a child is experiencing some of these asthma signs and symptoms, the child should have a lung function test, also called a pulmonary function test. A lung function test measures lung capacity and how well the lungs are delivering oxygen to the body. Young children may have problems performing the necessary breathing exercises for a lung function test. In those cases, the doctor may need to rely on the symptoms that the child is experiencing and the personal and family history of the child in order to diagnose asthma.