2. At what age does asthma first show up?
Asthma often begins in childhood, but it can occur at any age from infants to seniors.

3. My husband and I both have asthma. If we have a child that has asthma, will the asthma be worse than mine or my husband’s?
There are no methods available to predict a child’s asthma severity by the severity of asthma experienced by the child’s parents. It is important to remember that even if both you and your husband have asthma, it does not mean that a child of yours will necessarily develop asthma. The "asthma risk factor formula" states that if both parents have asthma, their child’s risk of developing it is 50-50.

4. How old does my child need to be before a diagnosis of asthma can be made?
The diagnosis of asthma can be made at any age. Because infants and small children are not able to perform breathing tests to determine if they have asthma, the diagnosis is made by physical examination of the child, medical history of symptoms, and may include a trial period of time on asthma medication(s) to see if symptoms improve.

5. What is the difference between asthma, reactive airway disease, asthmatic bronchitis, and bronchial asthma?
Asthma often goes by different names which sometimes leaves us feeling confused and not sure what is really wrong. Reactive airway disease, asthmatic bronchitis, and bronchial asthma are just a few of these names. It is always a good idea to discuss your diagnosis directly with your physician. If it is confusing to you, make sure you ask questions (e.g. Can you tell me what you mean by reactive airway disease? Does this mean I have asthma? How will you know if I have asthma or not?) until it is clear to you and you feel you understand.

6. What is cystic fibrosis? Is there ever any confusion over the diagnosis of that and asthma?
Cystic fibrosis is an inherited (genetic) disease that affects the respiratory system (airways and lungs) as well as the digestive system (stomach, pancreas, intestines, colon and other organs). A defective gene changes the chemical properties of mucus, making it thicker than normal. This abnormally thick mucus obstructs airways in the respiratory system leading to frequent respiratory infections, and also obstructs the release of important digestive enzymes from the pancreas causing digestive system complications.

Cystic fibrosis and asthma are very different diseases; however, coughing, wheezing and respiratory infections are common to both. For more information about cystic fibrosis contact the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation at www.cff.org.

7. My daughter was hospitalized with RSV [Respiratory Syncytial Virus*] when she was two years old. She is now seven years old and having trouble with her breathing, especially when she has a cold. There is now talk of her having asthma. I am wondering if RSV automatically caused her to have asthma?
There is evidence suggesting RSV may be linked to the development of asthma in children. Children over the age of one who develop severe cases of RSV are more likely to be diagnosed with asthma later on. However, it is not clear whether the children develop asthma because of RSV, or whether their genetic predisposition to asthma made them more susceptible to RSV.

*Editor's note: RSV is a virus that commonly causes a respiratory infection in infants and young children. To read more about the RSV/asthma link go to www.rsvinfo.com.

8. I have had asthma for years and was just diagnosed with COPD. Can that be or did they make a mistake?
No mistake. Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) – which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis – are common respiratory illnesses that can occur together in the same person. Asthma and COPD both cause symptoms of shortness of breath, coughing and wheezing but are very different diseases. Click here to learn more.

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