Table 1.

From symptoms to diagnosis: alternative diagnosis mimicking asthma.

Symptoms	Diseases	Investigations
Stridor at rest Stridor on exertion Dyspnea on exertion	Congenital/acquired subglottic stenosis Vocal cord dysfunction	Functional respiratory test Flexible fibreoptic rhino-laryngoscopy
Productive cough Recurrent wheezing Failure to thrive	Cystic fibrosis Non-CF bronchiectasis Churg Strauss syndrome Tracheo-esophageal fistula Aspiration	Sweat test Serum eosinophils count ANCA Exhaled nasal NO Nasal brushing Chest CT scan Flexible bronchoscopy Lipid laden alveolar macrophage on BAL
Dry cough/noisy breathing Unresponsive to SABA Dyspnea on exertion	Tracheo-bronchomalacia Vascular ring	Functional respiratory tests Flexible bronchoscopy Chest CT scan with contrast enhancement and dynamic study
Symptoms onset from birth Drumstick fingers	Congenital lung disease Heart diseases	Oximetry Chest X-ray Chest CT scan Heart ultrasound
Heartburn Chest pain	Gastroesophageal reflux	pH-impedance