During a moderate asthma attack, which symptom is most likely observed in the child?

In the context of a moderate asthma attack in a child, wheezing during both inspiration and expiration is a common and notable symptom. This occurs due to bronchoconstriction and inflammation of the airways, leading to turbulent airflow during breathing. The presence of wheezing indicates that the airways are narrowed and there is difficulty in airflow, which can manifest as sounds produced when air passes through constricted passages.

In moderate asthma attacks, wheezing is typically heard more intensely during expiration due to the increased resistance during the exhalation phase; however, when the attack intensifies, wheezing can also be detected during inhalation. This phenomenon highlights a severely impacted respiratory function, which aligns with the pathology of asthma where both phases of breathing may exhibit wheezing as the airways remain compromised.

Other potential symptoms of a moderate asthma attack, such as an inability to speak in complete sentences or reduced oxygen saturation, are certainly representative of the severity of respiratory distress, but they do not resonate with the classic dual-phase wheezing that characterizes the obstructed airways in a moderate attack. The marked prolonged expiratory phase is a common observation, but it does not specifically denote the audible wheezing that can be critical for diagnosis and management during such an episode. Therefore