South Australian children have the highest rate of hospitalisations for asthma in Australia. The vast majority of asthmatics can avoid hospitalisation through appropriate understanding of the condition and an adequate management plan.
Respiratory Tract Infections can affect all ages of children. The range of infections can include bronchiolitis, Pneumonitis, Pneumonia and Empyema. Accurate assessment is vital in determining the most appropriate treatment , particularly if infections are recurrent.
Breathing difficulties can present as wheezing. Wheezing is a high pitched sound when breathing out. Others can include a hoarse voice, the chest caving in, nasal flaring, breathing faster than normal, breathlessness or shortness of breath and stridor which is a sound heard when breathing in.
Chronic Lung Disease occurs in premature infants and may require long term follow up and management. At times these infants require oxygen for home.
5-10% of the paediatric population have a chronic cough. It is a very non specific symptom and as a result there are multiple causes for cough. A cough becomes chronic when it lasts for 4 weeks or more.
