Asthma is a condition of the large airways in the lungs (wind pipes) which is characterised by narrowing of these airways, with extra production of secretions (sputum). The most common symptoms are: cough, wheezing, difficulty in breathing, tightness of the chest, shortness of breath. Some children have symptoms only once in a while which can be severe at times, and others may have frequent mild symptoms such as cough at night and cough on exercise only. Asthma can run in the family and you may find that other family members have one or more of the other  ‘atopy’ conditions that asthma belongs to, such as eczema and hay fever.