Dr Phil Kieran: Could my child's night coughing be due to asthma?

There are specific tests, such as pulmonary function tests, but most of the time, asthma is diagnosed clinically and confirmed by a successful response to treatment

A prolonged cough is a common complaint and often causes significant distress to both the child with the cough and the parent who hears it. File picture: iStock 

My 12-year-old daughter has started coughing at night. Lying down seems to be a trigger. It’s a dry cough, so could it mean she has asthma rather than a lingering viral cough?

A prolonged cough is a common complaint and often causes significant distress to both the child with the cough and the parent who hears it.