Recognition of an Asthma Attack

Asthma can be recognised by the following symptoms and signs:

• A dry, irritating, persistent cough, particularly at night, early morning, with exercise or activity
• Chest tightness
• Shortness of breath
• Wheeze (high pitched whistling sound during breathing).

Recognition of a Severe Asthma Attack

Symptoms and signs of a severe asthma attack include some or all the following:

• Gasping for breath (may have little or no wheeze due to little movement of air)
• Severe chest tightness
• Inability to speak more than one or two words per breath.
• Feeling distressed and anxious
• Little or no improvement after using reliever medication.
• ‘Sucking in’ of the throat and rib muscles, use of shoulder muscles or bracing with arms to help breathing.
• Blue discolouration around the lips (can be hard to see if skin colour also changes)
• Pale and sweaty skin
• Symptoms rapidly getting worse or using reliever more than every two hours.

As well as the above symptoms, young children appear restless, unable to settle or become drowsy. A child may also ‘suck’ in muscles around the ribs and may have problems eating or drinking due to shortness of breath. A child also may have severe coughing and vomiting.

An asthma attack can take anything from a few minutes to a few days to develop.