A pulmonologist is a doctor who specializes in all diseases and ailments affecting you child’s lung and airways. As you are well aware in today’s times especially, a simple cold and cough could be due to viral illness or something more serious like a COVID infection or swine flu. A pediatric pulmonologist diagnoses, treats and manages all illnesses that primarily affect the lungs, especially if the symptoms are of long duration (chronic) or recurrent.
Common respiratory symptoms and signs are:
1. Acute viral illness with cold / cough / fever
2. Breathing difficulty especially during exercise or increased activity
3. Fast breathing
4. Noisy breathing or stridor
5. Wheezing
6. Recurrent coughs / colds / wheezing
7. Choking
8. Snoring / mouth breathing
9. Sleep disturbances
10. Respiratory symptoms with history of / suspected covid infection recently or in past
11. Oxygen saturation of less than 94%
12. Rashes / Skin allergies
13. Expectoration
14. Weight loss / Failure to gain weight
15. Blood in sputum
16. Fatigue
Common Respiratory Conditions are:
1. Recurrent pneumonia
2. Chronic pneumonia
3. Bronchial Asthma
4. Recurrent ear infections
5. Foreign body aspiration (inhaling foreign body like nuts into airway)
6. Tuberculosis
7. Allergic Rhinitis
8. Cystic Fibrosis
9. Primary ciliary dyskinesia and other genetic diseases
10. Urticaria and allergies
11. Bronchiectasis
12. Prematurity related lung conditions
13. Congenital lung diseases
14. Neurological and Neuro Muscular Disorders related respiratory disorders
15. Hemat – Oncological related pulmonary disorders
16. Post Liver and Renal transplant, Post BMT related lung disorders
17. Sleep Apnoea and other disorders
Common Investigations in Pulmonology are:
1. Blood tests
2. Radiology – Chest X Ray / CT chest / X rays for diagnosis of adenoids / sinusitis
3. Skin prick tests for allergy testing
4. Pediatric lung function test / Spirometry
5. Pediatric lung volume study / DLCO
6. FENO
7. Flexible Bronchoscopy – Pediatric & Neonatal
8. Interventional Bronchoscopy
- For Foreign body removal
- *Trans bronchial needle aspiration (TBNA)
- *Pediatric EBUS TBNA (Endobronchial ultrasound guided TBNA) (*Both TBNA & EBUS TBNA are high end interventional bronchoscopic procedures to diagnose conditions like resistant tuberculosis, malignancy, sarcoidosis and other causes leading to enlarged lymph nodes in chest or mediastinum. This facility is available in very few centres in the country in pediatrics).
- Lung biopsy – conventional and by using cryobiopsy
- Endoscopic balloon dilatation
- Cryotherapy for sub glottic stenosis / sub glottic membrane
- Medical glue therapy
9. Sweat chloride tests
10. Evaluation of Gastro – Oesophageal Reflux Disease
11. Evaluation for Swallowing disorders
12. Evaluation for recurrent aspirations
13. Pediatric thoracoscopy
14. Evaluation for chronic / recurrent pneumonia (including Induced Sputum and Gastric Aspirate)
15. Pediatric Sleep Study
16. Home oxygen therapy
17. Home ventilation therapy
18. Non - Invasive Ventilation
Specialized Clinics
i. Bronchial Asthma Clinic
ii. Cystic Fibrosis Clinic
Supportive Care Which We Have:
a. Bronchial Asthma Support Group for Patients and Carers
b. Cystic Fibrosis Support Group for Patients and Carers
c. Pulmonary Rehabilitation
d. Chest Physiotherapy and Airway Clearance Techniques
e. Nutritional Rehabilitation in Chronic Lung Disorders
f. Tracheostomy care
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