Laryngeal Foreign Body in the Differential Diagnosis of Wheeze in Early Childhood

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Wheeze is the major clinical sign of asthma. However, wheeze cannot be used as a unique diagnostic sign for asthma in young children. Most respiratory disease in early childhood is obstructive in nature and usually manifests with wheeze. This report presents three wheezy young children diagnosed with asthma and treated with inhaled steroids before the diagnosis of laryngeal foreign body was made. The importance of a carefully taken history and examination of every child presenting with wheeze in early childhood is discussed.