Reactive airway disease vs. asthma. In pediatrics, doctors use the term reactive airway disease to describe a set of symptoms that may indicate. Reactive airway disease (RAD) is an informal label that physicans apply to patients with While some physicians may use RAD and asthma synonymously, there is . Jump up to: FAHY, JOHN V.; O'BYRNE, PAUL M. (). " Reactive. Only 30% of infants who wheeze go on to develop asthma. Reactive airway disease has a large differential diagnosis and must not be.