Wheeze is a common presentation in young children. About 20% of infants wheeze in infancy  and at least 40% of children <6 years of age have at least one wheezing episode.

Differential diagnosis of wheeze in infants/young children

• FB
• Viral wheeze (not always able to clearly seperate these conditions) - Management is the same
  • Viral LRTI
  • Transient viral wheeze in infancy
  • recurrent viral-induced wheeze
  • bronchiolitis
• Asthma
• Airway malacia (floppiness of the airway)
  • Tracheomalacia
  • Bronchomalacia
• Protracted bacterial bronchitis (PBB)

Differential diagnosis of wheeze in children

• Respiratory infections
• asthma
• croup
• cigarette smoke inhalation
• FB