Recurrent Cough
Recurrent Cough This is a very common complain for children. Common causes include: Asthma – the most common cause of childhood cough. Typically symptoms (such as wheeze and breathlessness may…
Respiratory Examination
For a quick overview of the respiratory system exam, please see the Introduction to Respiratory Exam article General Instructions Always examine the patient from their right. Make sure you get…
Respiratory Infections
General Overview Respiratory disorders in children are extremely common. The incidence generally decline with age, such that in middle teenage years, they are rare. Children <5 will have on average…
Respiratory Physiology
Inspiration is an active process, but normal expiration is a passive process. Forced expiration recruits the abdominal muscles to help force out air. Muscles of breathingDiaphragm – this is the main…
Restrictive vs Obstructive lung disease
Introduction This article gives a brief explanation about volume-time curves which are used to assist the distinction between obstructive and restrictive lung disease. These are only part of a full panel of…
CPAP Machine
Sleep Apnoea
Introduction Sleep apnoea (aka Obstructive Sleep Apnoea or OSA, or OSAS - obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome) describes a condition in which there are multiple (often frequent) pauses in respiration ("apnoeas") during sleep, as…
Smoking Cessation
Smoking Cessation
Introduction Smoking is the number one risk factor associated with preventable disease and premature death. The WHO estimates that 5.4 million people die prematurely each year as a result of…
Flow-Volume Loop spirometry
Spirometry
Introduction Spirometry is the most widely used pulmonary function test (aka lung function test). It measures the volume and flow of air during inspiration and expiration; it is an assessment of how effectively…
TB – Tuberculosis
Introduction Tuberculosis (TB) is a chronic infectious disease, caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) of which there are three types that infect humans: M. tuberculosis - by far the most common type M.…
Upper Respiratory Tract Infections
Introduction Upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) account for up to 80% of all respiratory tract infections in children. The rest are due to lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) - mainly…