In pediatrics, doctors use the term reactive airway disease to describe a set of symptoms that may indicate a child has asthma. Further tests help the doctor diagnose or rule out asthma. But it can be difficult to diagnose asthma in early childhood. Below the age of 5, tests for asthma may not give an accurate result.

Doctors may use the term reactive airway disease until they have reached an accurate diagnosis. Doctors should not use term reactive airway disease interchangeably with asthma. But sometimes this does happen. When the term is used, it is a good idea to clarify whether further tests for asthma will be needed.

Reactive airway disease is sometimes used to describe symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, reactive airway disease and COPD are not the same. Smoking often causes COPD. As it progresses, breathing can become increasingly difficult. It is important to talk to a doctor about the best treatments for COPD.