ASTHMA IN PRESCHOOL CHILDREN. DIAGNOSTIC AND THERAPEUTIC DIFFICULTIES

Asthma is the most common chronic disease in childhood (12-14%) worldwide. Most children with asthma develop symptoms at an early age, but their diagnosis is often delayed, and in other cases, a misdiagnosis of "asthma" is made in young children with "viral wheezing". The diagnosis of asthma in children under 5 years of age is largely difficult due to the wide range of diseases in which there may be persistent or recurrent manifestations of bronchoobstructive syndrome (BOS), including dry cough, "wheezing", shortness of breath and expiratory dyspnea, and the fact that lung function testing is practically impossible, making diagnosis an additional challenge. Therefore, underdiagnosis leads to late diagnosis of asthma and unnecessary use of antibiotic treatment for the so-called "recurrent respiratory infections with bronchial obstruction", and on the other hand, overdiagnosis leads to unnecessary drug prophylaxis of asthma and its associated side effects. The diagnosis of asthma in young children is based largely on recurring symptoms, combined with careful clinical assessment of family history and physical findings with careful consideration of differential diagnosis options. Asthma treatment aims to reduce symptoms and the risk of future complications.