[Diagnosis and treatment of recurrent coughing and wheezing in children younger than 4 years old].

Recurrent coughing and wheezing occur in 10-20% of children younger than 4 years. Forty per cent of these children develop allergic asthma, while in 60% the symptoms are transient. It is difficult to distinguish between persistent and transient symptoms; signs of allergy and lack of symptom-free intervals are suggestive of persistent asthma. In acute wheezing and coughing a trial treatment with beta-2 sympathicomimetic agents is indicated, preferably using an inhalation aerosol with feed container; for cases with pronounced symptoms or strong suspicion of allergic asthma, high-dose oral corticosteroid treatment is recommended. Maintenance treatment with inhalation corticosteroids is valuable in moderately severe complaints of allergic asthma and in severe complaints about recurrent wheezing.