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Does Your Child Have Asthma? Hawaii has the highest rate of asthma in the United States. Parents often do not know their child has asthma. Early signs of asthma include a cough that doesn’t seem to go away or appears to get worse at night, tightness in the chest, shortness of breath or wheezing (a whistling sound heard in the chest). If your child has any of these signs, please contact your doctor and schedule a visit to see if your child does have asthma. For successful asthma care, Kapi'olani Emergency Physician Rod Boychuk, M.D., recommends the following: DO NOT SMOKE (this makes it much worse), involve and teach the whole family about prevention and control, and always have extra medications on hand. If your child starts to get sick, visit the doctor during normal business hours. If seeking care after hours, Kapi'olani’s Pediatric Emergency Department has a team specially trained to treat asthma and coordinate follow-up care for your child. Rod Boychuk, M.D. >> HEAR FROM THE EXPERT: Breathe Easy Kapi`olani Respiratory Therapists Tuesdays, 6–7:30 p.m. Click here for more information.