Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine

Lung and airway problems can make breathing, sleeping and staying active difficult for children. At MU Health Care, our pediatric pulmonology team provides expert care for a wide range of conditions, helping kids breathe easier and thrive.

Our pediatric pulmonologists (lung specialists) offer specialized care for kids of all ages with rare and common lung and airway disorders.

We treat premature infants, babies, children and teens with:

Airway obstruction (blockage)
Asthma
Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), a chronic lung disease affecting newborns and infants
Chest wall malformations
Chronic pulmonary aspiration (repeated inhalation of food, liquid or stomach contents)
Chronic respiratory failure
Croup (upper-airway infection)
Cystic fibrosis (CF)
Hay fever (allergic rhinitis)
Lung-related complications from congenital heart disease, scoliosis, muscular dystrophy and other conditions
Interstitial lung disease (ILD), which causes scarring in the lungs
Pneumonia
Recurrent respiratory infections, including whooping cough (pertussis)
Respiratory complications of prematurity
Sleep apnea, sleepwalking or night terrors
Swallowing difficulties
Tracheomalacia (airway collapse during exhalation)

When Should My Child See a Pediatric Pulmonologist?

Your child may benefit from seeing one of our pediatric pulmonologists if they’ve already been diagnosed with a respiratory condition. For example, our team can help children of all ages with congenital anomalies like chest wall deformities. We can also provide the highest level of care for kids with cystic fibrosis, sleep disorders and aerodigestive diseases.

If your child’s symptoms don’t yet have a diagnosis, we can help assess and determine the cause of issues such as:

Choking during feeding
Frequent coughing
“Noisy” breathing, such as rattling or raspy sounds
Shortness of breath, which may appear as rapid or shallow breathing or a chest that “sinks in” during inhalation
Recurrent lung infections
Snoring or difficulty breathing while sleeping
Unusual tiredness or trouble breathing during exercise
Wheezing

If your child shows any signs of a potential lung condition, talk to your pediatric primary care provider. Your provider may recommend meeting with a pediatric pulmonologist who specializes in treating kids’ respiratory and sleep disorders.

Our Approach to Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine

Respiratory conditions can be complex. We have the kid-focused expertise to support you and your family. Our team includes pediatric ENTs (ear, nose and throat), allergists, gastroenterologists, surgeons, speech therapists, respiratory therapists, dietitians and other experts. Together, we can provide the care your child needs, from birth through adolescence and early adulthood.

We make it easy for you to see your care team. Our clinics offer coordinated aerodigestive, cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy, chest wall disorder and sleep disorder programs all under one roof. This means you can often see all your child’s specialists in one visit.

Pulmonary Medicine Tests

Lung specialists on our children’s health team offer the full range of diagnostic services, including:

Pulmonary function and exhaled nitric oxide testing in a pediatric pulmonary function lab
Sweat testing for cystic fibrosis
Allergy tests
Exercise tests, which measure how physical activity affects lung function
Methacholine challenge (bronchoprovocation) tests, which determine how lungs react to medication that narrows the airways
X-rays and computed tomography (CT) scans performed by experienced pediatric radiologists
Bronchoscopy, a minimally invasive procedure that involves inserting a flexible tube down the throat to view the airways and lungs
Pediatric sleep studies performed in our dedicated pediatric sleep clinic — the only one in mid-Missouri

Pulmonary Medicine Treatments

Our team can develop a personalized care plan based on your child’s specific needs. Your child’s plan may include treatments, such as:

Breathing treatments, including nebulizers and inhalers that contain medicine to help your child breathe.
Medications based on your child’s condition. For CF, CFTR modulator medications can extend lifespan and improve quality of life.
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy to keep airways open in children with sleep apnea.
Oxygen therapy with a portable tank to deliver more oxygen to your child’s blood.
Ventilator management for kids who need breathing support.