If your child has a condition that affects his or her lungs and breathing, it can be scary for you as a parent. Your child needs proper diagnosis, treatment and management to allow him or her to breathe easier and participate in everyday activities.

Children’s Health at University of Missouri Children’s Hospital has one of the most comprehensive and respected pediatric pulmonary medicine, asthma and allergy centers in the state of Missouri.

Our team of highly skilled pediatric pulmonologists takes care of children who battle acute (sudden) and chronic (ongoing) respiratory diseases such as cystic fibrosis, asthma and conditions like hay fever brought on by allergies. We offer state-of-the-art treatments with kindness and a genuine love for kids.

Some common illnesses we treat

Our pulmonary pulmonologists treat a wide range of lung conditions in kids, including:

• Asthma.
• Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (chronic lung disease that affects newborns and infants).
• Cystic fibrosis (genetic disorder that affects the lungs).
• Hay fever.
• Sleep apnea and other sleep disorders.
• Ventilator-dependent respiratory conditions.

Comprehensive testing we offer

We offer testing to help diagnose any pulmonary condition your child may have, such as:

• Allergy tests.
• Bronchoscopy (using a thin viewing instrument to closely examine your child’s airway).
• Exercise challenge
• Methacholine challenge (test for asthma in which your child breathes in medicine called methacholine).
• Pulmonary function tests.
• Sleep study.

Our sleep clinic

We have a team of accomplished sleep specialists who can diagnose and treat sleep disorders that might be impacting your child's behavior, school performance and overall well-being. Potential symptoms of a sleep disorder include:

• Snoring.
• Bed wetting.
• Frequent nightmares.
• Sleepwalking.
• Unwilling or unable to fall asleep at night (insomnia).
• Difficulty waking up in the morning.
• Excessive sleepiness throughout the day (narcolepsy).
• Fussy and disruptive behavior.
• Headaches.
• Unexplained weight gain.
• Poor school performance.
• Restless legs syndrome (RLS).

Speak with your child's primary care provider if you notice any of these symptoms, and he or she can refer you to our sleep clinic.