What actually happens in an asthma attack varies quite a lot according to each individual and the severity and frequency of the attacks they normally suffer, but the common feature is an inability to breathe normally.
So, how does an attack begin? An attack may begin gradually or abruptly.
The first signs are often shortness of breath and the child may breathe faster and with more effort in an attempt to get more air into his lungs.
He may also wheeze and cough, show signs of anxiety and pant as he talks.
As breathing out is more difficult than breathing in, he may hunch forward to make breathing easier and you will probably hear the characteristic wheezing noise as he breathes out.
With children, especially very young children, the onset of an asthma attack can sometimes be difficult to recognize.
But if you can learn to identify the early stages of an attack in your child you will be able to deal with it before it worsens and, usually, prevent it developing into a more serious attack.
So, what causes a child's first asthma attack? A first attack may come on without obvious cause, or it may be preceded by a cold or chest infection that has led to excess mucus accumulating in the airways.
If the attack is severe you may need to call your child's doctor or even go immediately to the nearest accident and emergency unit.
Even if it less severe you should still contact your doctor as soon as possible as your child needs to be examined medically to make sure there are no other problems that require treatment.
What are the early warning signs? If your child has already been diagnosed as asthmatic you may notice that an attack nearly always begins in the same way.
Many parents sat that coughing during the night is the first sign of an impending asthma attack; the cough will not be relieved by a drink of water, although it may be eased temporarily by propping the child up in bed with more pillows.
So, will your child wheeze? Wheezing indicates that the air is not flowing easily through your child's airways so it is quite usual for him to wheeze at the beginning of an attack.
It may sound alarming, but wheezing does not necessarily mean that the attack is already at a serious stage.
How to help your child during an attack? Being unable to get his breath can be a very frightening experience for a child.
Although you may also feel alarmed, it is vital to stay calm so that he does not react to your feelings and panic and start to hyperventilate.
If the attack happens when the child is in bed, help him to sit upright, perhaps propped up with pillows, to make it easier for air to reach the lungs.