Factitious (False) Asthma
Factitious (false) asthma is a disorder that mimics asthma but is not asthma at all. Symptoms similar to asthma may be present, but the origin of these symptoms is not due to bronchospasm as it is in asthma. Problems often occur in the upper airway, especially at the level of the vocal cords. Rarely a lung tumor or blood vessel pressing on the bronchi can cause wheezing. Specialized tests will identify factitious asthma.
