Pseudo-asthma in the infant and child (about six cases)

The onset of asthmatiform dyspnea in an infant or young child is a common occurrence. If asthma is the most frequent cause, other etiologic factors must be considered. The authors report six cases of recurrent wheezing presenting as asthma in children aged from 12 months to 10 years. There were two cases of primary tuberculosis, two cases of intrabronchial foreign body, one case of vascular compression of the trachea and one case of rachitic lung. In each case, the initial diagnosis of asthma was revised on the basis of investigations performed either routinely or because of failure to respond to treatment. Emphasis is put on the need for a thorough work-up in pédiatrie patients with wheezing. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.