The wheezing child: An algorithm

Background: Wheezing is a common presentation in young children. Diagnosis and treatment of these children can be challenging, as arriving at a final diagnosis often requires a process of elimination. Objective: This article aims to provide an algorithm for managing a young child with wheeze in the primary care setting. We will aim to address key questions of some controversy that relate to this algorithm: 1. Does the child actually have wheeze - how accurate is the parents' description? 2. Do antibiotics have a role? The emergence of protracted bacterial bronchitis (PBB) 3. Is it asthma or viral wheeze, and which children outgrow this phenomenon? Discussion: The exact cause of wheezing can be unclear in children, particularly those under pre-school age (