Brief Answer: diagnosis is on symptoms and PFT, Safe to use Detailed Answer: Hello, making a diagnosis of asthma in a young child is not easy As your son is 2.5 years age, doing a pulmonary function test will be difficult and diagnosis is based of symptoms. Usually doctor suspecting asthma in such a young child follows a wait and watch policy and keeps the child under observation with regular visits. A look at a chest Xray in a 2.5 yrs child is not going to make a diagnosis of asthma. Your doctor also must have made the diagnosis based on symptoms. Inhaler is a very safe method of treatment even in young children and the use can be done under paediatrician's guidance for as long long as the symptoms are there and can be repeated during subsequent attacks. In case the problem is continuous, a long term use is required and is perfectly safe under doctors guidance. Many a times, as the child grows, the symptoms disappear and the child becomes alright and the need for inhalers go. So, please relax and remain on follow up with your paediatrician and let him/her observe the symptoms on long term basis. Take care

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