There is no definite time for a physician to call a child who is having episodes of wheezing an asthmatic. In fact, physicians may choose many terms to describe a wheezing child, including bronchitis, wheezy bronchitis, reactive airways, and even pneumonia. Not making the accurate diagnosis delays appropriate therapy and often leads to nothing being done to prevent the next attack. No one wants to put a label associated with a chronic illness like asthma on a child before being sure of the diagnosis--usually not until the child has had several episodes of wheezing.

The following factors help in making the diagnosis:

1. There is a family history of allergy and/or asthma

2. The child has had a recurrence of the same symptoms in a fairly short period

3. The child has atopic dermatitis (eczema) already