Wheezing in children is often alarming for parents. Let’s discuss what wheezing is, the conditions that cause it, and whether it always means asthma. We’ll also cover where you can have your child examined in Georgia.
What is wheezing?
Wheezing (medical term — rales or wheezing) is a sound produced when air passes through narrowed bronchi. Parents describe it as “whistling,” “squeaking,” or “noisy breathing,” sometimes audible even from a distance.
When does wheezing occur? Narrowing of the airways in children can have different causes:
• viral infections (bronchiolitis, bronchitis) — the most common cause in children
• allergies — swelling of the mucosa can lead to wheezing
• bronchial asthma — chronic inflammation and hyperreactivity of the bronchi
• foreign body in the airway — sudden wheezing in a previously healthy child
• congenital airway anomalies (laryngomalacia, tracheomalacia)
Wheezing in toddlers vs. school-aged children
• Under 3 years: wheezing is usually linked to viral infections. Their bronchi are narrow, and even slight swelling causes noisy breathing. Many children “outgrow” this problem with age
• Over 5 years: repeated wheezing episodes are more often related to asthma or allergies
Is wheezing always asthma?
No. Statistics show that 30–40% of children have at least one episode of wheezing during an infection. But only a portion of them later develop asthma.
Risk factors for asthma:
• parental history of asthma or allergies
• atopic dermatitis or allergic rhinitis in the child
• recurrent wheezing without fever
• wheezing not only during illness, but also with exertion, laughter, or allergen exposure
When to seek urgent medical care?
• sudden wheezing with breathing difficulty — possible foreign body
• wheezing with bluish lips or severe weakness
• breathing is noisy at a distance, child struggles to speak
• infants under 1 year with frequent wheezing, poor appetite, or weight loss
Diagnosis and treatment in Georgia. In Tbilisi and other cities, pediatricians and pediatric pulmonologists evaluate wheezing using:
• clinical examination and history-taking
• spirometry (in children over 5 years)
• allergy testing
• X-ray or further studies if a foreign body or congenital anomaly is suspected
Treatment depends on the cause:
• viral infection — symptomatic observation
• asthma or allergy — inhaled medications
• foreign body — urgent removal
The doctor’s main task is to determine whether this is an isolated episode or a sign of a chronic condition. Wheezing in children is not always asthma: in toddlers, it is usually linked to viral infections, while in school-aged children it may indicate allergies or asthma. Careful monitoring and timely medical consultation are essential. If your child has wheezing or noisy breathing, you can book a consultation with our pediatrician in Tbilisi for a thorough evaluation.
References
• Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA). Global Strategy for Asthma Management and Prevention, 2024
• Martinez FD et al. Wheezing in children: pathophysiology and epidemiology. Pediatrics, 2019
• American Academy of Pediatrics. Evaluation of wheezing in infants and children. Pediatrics, 2021