If your child cannot seem to get enough breath in his lungs (shortness of breath) or is having a hard time breathing, he probably has a medical condition that needs treatment. If your child is old enough to talk, he can tell you that he is having difficulty breathing. If your child is younger, you may notice that he is breathing harder or faster than usual, isn't feeding well, or is cranky. Seek emergency medical care immediately if your child is in severe distress -- no matter his age.

Answering the following questions in this Health Decision Guide will help you understand more about what usually causes shortness of breath in children, and help you know when you should contact your pediatrician for medical care. Please note, this guide is not meant to take the place of a visit to your pediatrician's office.

Click here to begin.

Shortness of breath can be a sign of a serious illness.

Your child is having some difficulty breathing. Do any of the following other statements describe your child?

• When my child breathes, I can see his nostrils flare, his belly move out, his ribs stick out, and/or his neck muscles tighten.

• When my child breathes in, he makes a whistling or high-pitched noise.

• He grunts when he breathes out.

• His lips, mouth or fingertips are blue.

• He can not talk or can not finish a sentence without stopping to take a breath.

• He is drooling more than he usually would.

• His face, lips, eyes, or neck is swollen.

• He is scratching or has hives.

• He is sleepier than usual for the time of day.

• He is not moving normally.

• He is not answering questions normally or seems confused.

Yes, one or more of these statements describes my child.

No, none of those statements describe my child.

Your child is short of breath, but does not seem to be having severe trouble breathing. That is reassuring.

Does your child have a cough?

Yes, my child has a cough.

No, my child does not have a cough.

Is your child breathing shallowly and more quickly than usual?

Yes, my child is breathing that way.

No, my child is not breathing that way.

Does your child seem more tired that usual, especially with exercise or activity?

Yes, that describes my child.

No, that does not describe my child.

Shortness of breath along with being tired and having difficulty with exercise can be symptoms of a heart problem.

Is it possible that your child swallowed something he shouldn't have, like a coin or a toy?

Yes, it's possible my child swallowed something he shouldn't have.

No, it's not possible that my child swallowed something he shouldn't have.

Shortness of breath, especially shortness of breath that comes on suddenly, can happen when an object gets stuck in the lungs.

Does your child seem anxious or fearful?

Does he complain of dizziness or lightheadedness?

Does your child say that his hands or lips feel tingly?

Is your child feeling stress in some area?

Yes, one or more of these describe my child.

No, none of these describe my child.

You've said that your child is short of breath but is not having severe difficulty breathing, does not have a cough, is not breathing rapidly and shallowly, is not more tired than usual or having difficulty with exercise. You've also said that it's not possible that he swallowed something that could have gotten into his lungs, and that he doesn't seem anxious.

It's not clear what is causing your child's shortness of breath.

Call your doctor. Shortness of breath is a symptom that should never be ignored. Your doctor can go over the symptoms with you and decide the best course of action for your child.

Your child may feel short of breath because he feels anxious or has panic attacks. Try to figure out what might be causing stress in your child's life, either at home or school. Talk this over with your spouse or family members. Speak with your child's teachers and ask whether there are any problems at school.

Call your pediatrician if your child's these symptoms last for more than a few hours, are happening often, or seem to be getting worse. Your pediatrician may suggest counseling for your child if his shortness of breath is caused by stress or anxiety.

Call your doctor today. Shortness of breath along with being tired and having difficulty with exercise or activity could be signs of a heart problem.

Call your doctor immediately. Your child could have an illness that is causing a buildup of acid in his blood, like diabetes or a metabolic problem.

There are many different conditions that could cause your child to cough.

Do any of the following statements describe your child?

• His chest hurts when he breathes.

• He is coughing up yellow, green, red or brown mucous.

• He has a fever or the chills.

• He is very tired.

• He doesn't want to eat.

• He has lost weight.

Yes, one or more of these statements describes my child.

No, my child is not showing these kinds of symptoms.

Your child does not seem to be having any difficulty breathing and does not have chest pain, fever, poor appetite, or weight loss and is not coughing up unusual mucous.

For some children with asthma, cough is the most prominent symptom. Think about the way your child is coughing.

• Is the cough dry?

• Have you heard wheezing?

• Does he have a persistent nighttime cough or does he cough with exercise?

Yes, one or more of these statements describes my child.

No, none of these statements describe my child.

Call your pediatrician. Your child may have asthma, a condition where a child has repeated asthma "attacks," episodes where air can not get in and out of the lungs the way it normally does.

You have said that your child does not have a dry cough, wheezing, persistent nighttime cough or cough with exercise.

Pertussis (whooping cough) can cause bouts of coughing.

• Does your child cough very hard, and for longer than one minute at a time?

• Does his face turn red or blue or does he begin to choke when he coughs?

Yes, my child is having severe coughing spells.

No, my child does not have severe coughing spells.

Your child has a cough, but the coughing spells do not last longer than one minute and the cough is not making him choke, or turn red or blue in the face.

• Does your child make a barking sound when he coughs, like a seal?

• Does he cough like this mostly at night?

Yes, my child has a barking cough.

No, my child doesn't have a barking cough.

Your child does not have a barking cough and he is not having severe coughing spells.

Is your child younger than two years of age?

Yes, my child is younger than two years old.

No, my child is over two years old.

Does your child have any of the symptoms of a cold or the flu -- such as a runny or stuffy nose?

Yes, my child has some of the symptoms of a cold or the flu.

No, my child does not have any cold or flu symptoms.

Does your child have a harsh, wheezy cough and a very runny nose?

Yes, my child does have these symptoms.

No, my child does not have these symptoms.

Call your doctor immediately.

Your child may have bronchiolitis, a viral infection of the small breathing tubes (bronchioles) in the lungs.

Has your child been coughing for months?

Yes, my child has been coughing for months.

No, my child hasn't been coughing for months

Children who have had a persistent cough for many months may have an underlying lung problem. This is even more likely if he has not been growing as well as expected.

Call your doctor. Your child should have an appointment soon to get him thoroughly checked out and decide if any tests are necessary.

Does your child have any of the symptoms of a cold or the flu -- such as a runny or stuffy nose?

Yes, my child has some of the symptoms of a cold or the flu.

No, my child does not have any cold or flu symptoms.

Your child is coughing but you have not noticed any cold or flu symptoms.

• Does your child's nose always seem runny or stuffy?

• Does he breathe through his mouth instead of his nose?

• Does he have bad breath?

Yes, this describes my child.

No, this doesn't describe my child.

Your child does not seem to have a stuffy nose most of the time, breathe through his mouth, or have bad breath. Those symptoms can be a sign of allergies or sinus infection.

Does your child spend any time near second-hand tobacco smoke or another kind of air pollution?

Yes, my child is around smokers or polluted air.

No, my child is not around smokers or polluted air.

Your child is not around smokers or polluted air. That is good. Smoke and air pollution are irritating to everyone's lungs, but especially to children. It's very important that no one smokes near your child.

Is your child taking any medications, either over-the-counter or prescription?

Yes, my child is taking medication.

No, my child isn't on any medications.

Stress can also be a reason for a child to have an unexplained cough.

• Does your child have a frequent daytime cough with no other symptoms?

• Does your child say that he "has to" cough?

• Is your child feeling stress in some area?

Yes, this describes my child.

No, this does not describe my child.

You've said that your child doesn't seem stressed or anxious.

Is it possible that your child swallowed something he shouldn't, like a coin or toy?

Yes, it's possible my child swallowed something he shouldn't.

No, I do not think my child swallowed anything he shouldn't.

Get emergency medical care immediately. Whatever your child swallowed could be causing a blockage in his lungs.

Shortness of breath and coughing in your child is not explained by the usual symptoms of the more common conditions. Call your pediatrician's office so that he or she can go over the symptoms with you again and decide the best course of action for your child. Shortness of breath is a symptom that should never be ignored.

Your child may be coughing due to a nervous habit or tic. (In medical terms, this is called a psychogenic cough.) Try to figure out what might be causing stress in your child's life, either at home or school. Talk this over with your spouse or family members. Speak with your child's teachers and ask whether there are any problems at school.

Call your pediatrician to let him or her know what's going on. Your pediatrician may suggest counseling for your child if his cough is caused by stress or anxiety.

A cough can be a sign of a reaction to a medication. If your child's cough is accompanied by any swelling of the lips or face, or difficulty breathing, you should call for emergency medical attention. If not, call your pediatrician to discuss whether the medication your child is taking might be causing his cough.

Your child's cough may be caused by second-hand smoke or polluted air. It's very important that no one smokes near your child. Encourage any smokers in your household to stop. If they can not stop, have them smoke outside and never let them smoke in your car. Do your best to limit your child's exposure to polluted air, and consider installing an air purifier in your child's room.

Being around secondhand smoke and polluted air can increase your child's risk of asthma and lung infections. If your child's cough is persistent, or he has a fever, you should call your pediatrician.

Call your pediatrician. Your child may have allergies or a sinus infection. This kind of nose or throat problem may be causing his cough.

It could be that your child has an upper respiratory infection. This kind of infection frequently causes a cough, a runny or stuffy nose, and a slight fever.

Call your pediatrician if your child is getting worse, or if he doesn't improve within a few days.

Call your pediatrician immediately. A barking cough can mean that your child has croup -- an infection of the large breathing tubes and vocal cords.

Your child may be having this cough because of pertussis, a serious lung infection that can cause trouble breathing. Call your pediatrician, because your child should be seen by a doctor immediately; call for emergency medical attention if your child is turning blue at the end of the spells.

Call your pediatrician immediately. Your child may have a serious infection in his lungs.

Call for emergency medical care immediately. Your child may be having severe difficulty breathing.