Lung Specialists - When To Take Your Child To Visit Them?

Lung specialists are able to provide a thorough evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of a number of breathing disorders in children. In addition to asthma, they can help in the management and treatment of conditions such as cystic fibrosis, upper airway obstruction recurrent pneumonia, chronic or recurrent cough, wheezing and sleep disorders. These specialists even known as paediatric pulmonologists can also be consulted in cases breathing and lung diseases in children from birth till the age of 21 years.

When to see a specialist?

You should consider visiting a lung specialist if you observe any of the following signs in your child:
Asthma

• If your child had to be hospitalised for an asthma attack more than once
• If the condition cannot be properly controlled or managed even after following the advice of the doctor.
• If your child has had more than two courses of oral steroids for asthma in the past year.
• If your child has been diagnosed with asthma and you want a second opinion.

Cough

• If your child has a chronic cough, which lasts for more than four weeks, or congestion that does not seem to respond to any form of medication.
• If your child coughs for more than two nights a month or more than two days a week.
• If your child starts coughing when exercising or running or performing any other strenuous activity.

Breathing

1. If you observe any changes in breathing or if your child seems to stop or pause while breathing when asleep or awake.
2. If you notice frequent bouts of fast or laboured breathing.
3. If your child is susceptible to viral or bacterial respiratory infections.
4. If your child snores or has disturbed sleep at night.
5. If your child has raspy or rattling breathing.

Pneumonia

• If your child has been diagnosed with pneumonia more than once.
• Children or young adults with breathing problems or asthma combined with conditions such as a deformity of the chest wall or pectus excavatum and Sickle cell disease will require a consultation with a paediatric lung specialist.

A paediatric lung specialist has the qualifications, training, and experience required to best treat your child. They would require the parent or guardian of the child to fill in a comprehensive questionnaire so as to correctly diagnose, treat and manage the condition. These questions would also form the basis of the medical history of the child.

In order to disease, the specialists may perform tests such as pulmonary function testing and flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy or FFB in a way that is best suited for your child. They will be able to interact and effectively answer any questions that the child would have.

One can consult their paediatrician to recommend or refer you to a suitable pulmonologist.