If you want your child to have healthy lungs and experience no difficulty breathing, chronic cough, or other signs and symptoms of pediatric pulmonary problems, you can turn to the pediatrics experts at Newport Children’s Medical Group for help.
For over 45 years at their locations in Newport Beach, Irvine, Costa Mesa, and Laguna Beach, California, they have become leaders in pediatrics, treating children with asthma, pneumonia, noisy breathing, chronic asthma, bronchitis, lunch disorders, and more using advanced lung treatments.
Schedule an appointment with the pediatric pulmonologist specialists at Newport Children’s Medical Group by phone today.
Pediatric Pulmonology Care Explained
Pediatric pulmonology care is a specialization of pulmonology concerned with diagnosing and treating a wide variety of lung and respiratory diseases or problems in children. Doctors who practice it are also trained pediatricians who treat babies, children, and adolescents, and can continue to do so when the patients reach adulthood (up to the age of 21).
Because the air we inhale passes through the lungs, it is directly affected by environmental factors. This renders it susceptible to infection, chemicals, allergens, pollutants, and severe temperatures.
In addition, respiratory diseases or disorders are the leading cause of hospital admissions for children. Due to the fact that children’s bodies have different requirements than those of adults, it is crucial that they consult a pediatric pulmonologist. For instance, the respiratory systems of a child and an adolescent or young adult are drastically different. A virus that causes relatively minor symptoms in an adolescent can be harmful to a newborn.
Even if a child has an incurable pulmonary disease, it is still possible to assist the youngster. Pediatric pulmonologists help children by alleviating their signs and symptoms, reducing their discomfort, and improving their quality of life.
Considering sleep also has a substantial influence on the function of lungs, an increasing number of pulmonary pediatrician are including sleep medicine as a key component of their practice.
Pediatrics & pulmonary services available at Newport Children’s Medical Group treat conditions that cause lung problems in children. Examples include:
- Pediatric asthma
- Exercise-induced asthma
- Cystic fibrosis
- Pneumonia
- Bronchitis
- Lung disorders
- Disordered breathing during sleep
- Chronic lung disease
- Interstitial lung disease
- Allergic reactions
Seeking treatment for pulmonary problems in children can improve their quality of life and prevent serious complications.
What are the symptoms of pediatric pulmonology?
The respiratory system, which includes the nose, throat, mouth, lungs, and diaphragm, is one of the most essential systems in the body of a child. Its main function is to help one breathe by transporting air in and out of the lungs and facilitating the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide.
Babies and children are more susceptible to diseases because their immune systems haven’t fully developed. As children get older, they may experience a variety of changes in their respiratory system. Some kids can develop allergies or asthma, leading to coughing fits, wheezing, or difficulty breathing. Diagnosing and treating these symptoms as early as possible is essential since some infections require immediate attention, while others may be chronic illnesses.
If your child exhibits one or more of the following health signs and symptoms, they might have a pediatric pulmonary condition requiring treatment by a pulmonary specialist.
- Labored breaths
- Chronic coughing
- Wheezing
- Shortness of breath
- Chest tightness
- Noisy breathing
- Recurring pneumonia
- Difficulty breathing at night
- Rapid respiration
- Chest retractions
- Lung function and other tests
- Sweat tests to detect cystic fibrosis
- Inhaled nitrous oxide tests
- Genetic testing
- Allergy skin tests
- Lung biopsies
- Chest X-rays
- Bronchoscopy
Bronchoscopy allows your child’s pediatric pulmonology physician to view the inside of air passages using a tiny flexible tube and camera to make a more accurate medical diagnosis.
Your pediatrician will use diagnostic tests to develop a personalized pediatrics pulmonary medicine treatment plan to alleviate symptoms and restore their quality of life.
What Lung Conditions Does A Pediatric Pulmonologist Doctor Treat?
A pediatric pulmonologist is a doctor who focuses on the diagnosis, treatment, and management of chronic conditions that affect the lungs and respiratory tract of infants, children, and young adults.
If your child has a cough that won’t go away, trouble catching a breath, or lung disease, you should talk to a pediatric pulmonologist as soon as possible.
Here is a rundown of conditions that a pediatric pulmonologist can treat:
- Asthma
- Bronchitis
- Bronchiolitis
- Cystic fibrosis
- Croup
- Pneumonia
- Pulmonary fibrosis
- Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
- Sleep apnea
Your child’s pulmonary treatment depends on the type of condition they have and its severity. Newport’s children’s health specialists might recommend using:
- Mechanical ventilation
- Oxygen therapy
- Medications
- Lung infection immunization
- Pulmonary rehabilitation
- An inhaler
Anti-inflammatory medicines help reduce airway inflammation, and bronchodilators can relax and widen your child’s airways. They might require an inhaler during certain times of the year or with physical therapy and activity to help them breathe easier.
During pediatric pulmonology rehabilitation, your child completes respiration and lung exercises as part of a therapy program that helps loosen mucus and optimize breathing. They might also receive nutritional counseling and health education about their condition.
Finding The Right Pulmonologist Health Clinic
Finding pediatric pulmonologists in your area online or through referrals from people you know is a good place to start. Make sure to verify their credentials and look for feedback from other parents.
Another way to validate and further screen your choices is by researching the children hospital or clinic. The right facility should be able to accommodate your child’s condition and have the necessary equipment for medical diagnosis.
Once you’ve narrowed down your choices to at least three, schedule an appointment to see how they interact with your child and decide whether you agree with their approaches. It’s important that your child feels comfortable with the doctor so that they will be more open to pediatrics treatments and can discuss any health concerns freely.
Meet Our Newport Beach Pulmonology Team for Your Child’s Care
After 30 years of helping children breathe easier through therapy and treatment, Dr. Zacharia Reda, physician, has earned a reputation as one of the best pediatric pulmonologists in the country.
Over the past 15 years, his colleagues at the Orange County Medical Association (OCMA) have unanimously voted him “Top Doctor” in recognition of his many accomplishments and dedication to the medical community. He is considered one of the “Best Doctors in America” as well.
Dr. Reda finished his residency at the University of California, Los Angeles, and his fellowship at the University of Southern California (USC) (UCLA). He specializes in primary pediatrics, asthma, pulmonary, critical care, and hospital medicine.
Dr. Reda has extensive experience in the medical field. He has served as the Associate Director of the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at Miller Children’s Hospital, as Medical Director of the PICU at Fountain Valley Regional Hospital for 15 years, and as Chairman of the Pediatric Department for 4 years.
Contact a Specialist To Get the Help Your Child Needs
Don’t let your child struggle with breathing when simple treatments are available. Schedule an appointment with the top-rated pediatric pulmonologists at Newport Children’s Medical Group at the first signs and symptoms of a pulmonology disorder or overall change in health of your child. Keeping your family healthy is our top priority.
Same or next-day appointments may be available for most care services at our medical center located in Newport Beach, California.
