Pediatric Pulmonology and Cystic Fibrosis Care

Breathing disorders your child may experience

Pediatric pulmonologists treat several conditions that affect breathing, working closely with other specialists, such as pediatric allergists, when needed. Conditions we care for include:

• Asthma
• Bronchopulmonary dysplasia
• Chronic cough
• Chronic lung disease
• Chronic respiratory failure
• Recurrent pneumonia
• Vocal cord dysfunction

We also provide specialized care for obstructive sleep apnea (a blockage that stops breathing), sleep disorders and cystic fibrosis:

Sleep apnea and sleep disorders

We diagnose, manage and treat kids with sleeping disorders at our Pediatric Sleep Centers. We have the only designated pediatric sleep center in the Lehigh Valley.

Cystic fibrosis (CF)

We have been designated as a Cystic Fibrosis Affiliate Center of The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. This means the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation has recognized us for delivering leading-edge, multidisciplinary care to children with CF.

Diagnosing pulmonary disorders

Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital pediatric pulmonologists use specialized tests to help them diagnose conditions. This is important because kids may have difficulty describing their condition or accurately answering questions. We offer the following diagnostic tests:

• Sweat chloride testing for cystic fibrosis, in the region’s only accredited sweat test laboratory
• Flexible bronchoscopy, which is the insertion of a viewing instrument that is also capable of collecting tissue or mucus samples
• Pulmonary function testing to determine how well your child’s lungs perform
• Sleep studies in private, home-like rooms to record physical activity during sleep, including body functions such as breathing patterns and heart rhythm

Treatments for CF, sleep disorders and breathing disorders

With an accurate diagnosis, we can deliver appropriate treatments, including:

• Lifestyle modification like dietary change and exercise
• Medications, oral or inhaled
• Antibiotics to treat infection
• Breathing treatments
• Assistive breathing devices like continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines
• Mechanical ventilation
• Chest physiotherapy, exercises that move mucus out of the lungs to improve breathing

Respiratory therapy

A respiratory therapist delivers many of the above treatments. Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital respiratory therapists have extra training to care for children. The National Board for Respiratory Care certifies that they are qualified to provide specialized pediatric respiratory care in the neonatal intensive care unit, pediatric intensive care unit, inpatient pediatric unit, pediatric pulmonology clinic and Children’s ER.

Pediatric Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT, otolaryngology)

In some cases, surgery to remove airway blockages, such as tonsillectomy, may help alleviate symptoms associated with breathing disorders. In these cases, we may refer you to a pediatric ear, nose and throat (ENT, otolaryngology) specialist.