Chest X-ray in 60 children (0-6 yr old) with newly diagnosed asthma at the primary care level showed normal findings in 85% at paediatric follow-up. The pathological findings were transient. The only X-ray tht led to change in treatment was performed on clinical grounds due to concurrent disease. In conclusion, routine X-ray need not be part of the initial routine work up of asthma in preschool children.