Diagnoses to be excluded

• COPD (Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).
• This is a chronic and progressive disease of the lungs, mainly as a result of smoking, which is usually not reversible or reversible to a much lesser extent than asthma is.
• Heart failure - (cardiac asthma), that is, wheeze and breathlessness due to congestion in the lungs, from fluid caused by heart failure.
• Tumours - benign or malignant tumours of the lungs, causing breathing difficulties.
• Cystic fibrosis - An inherited condition from childhood. The lungs are damaged and plugged with infected mucus.
• Bronchiectasis - Lungs are damaged because of previous infection (pneumonia or TB). Infected mucus pools in “pockets” formed in the damaged lungs.
• Inhalation - on an object such as a peanut, which causes subsequent breathing difficulties.
• Bronchiolitis (a) / Croup (b):
  1. Viral infection in small airways, in babies and young children.
  2. Acute infection of upper airways in small children.

• Acute bronchitis - This is an acute infection of the airways (bronchial tubes) with excessive production of sputum, and cough. There is also narrowing of the airways – leading to wheeze and breathlessness. However, with appropriate treatment, such as antibiotics, the condition is cured.