Pediatric Pulmonology

Breathing problems in children can be very distressing for a parent to watch and for a child to go through.  CHOG has the only pediatric pulmonologists in Augusta’s River Region who provide expert evaluation and treatment for all pediatric pulmonary disorders. We offer:

• Collaboration: We partner with Peds Otolaryngology (Ear Nose Throat), Pediatric Gastroenterology, and Pediatric Surgery to provide team-based care to children with complex pulmonary and sleep disorders.
• Dedicated Centers: We offer specific multidisciplinary clinics for pediatric patients with cystic fibrosis, patients on home ventilators, and for patients with complex sleep apnea. We also provide multidisciplinary support for children with aerodigestive disorders.
• Teamwork: We work with pediatric dieticians, pediatric respiratory therapists, and pediatric psychologist to help children with lung problems and breathing disorders to learn to manage and cope with their illness.
• Cystic Fibrosis Center: We are one of only two Cystic Fibrosis Centers in Georgia accredited by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
• Pediatric Pulmonary Function Testing, our PFT Lab uses child-friendly equipment and procedures to diagnose and treat Pediatric Patients with lung conditions and diseases.
• Multidisciplinary Sleep/ENT clinic, specialty clinic that partners Pediatric Pulmonology and Pediatric Otolaryngology (Ear Nose Throat) to serve children with complex sleep disorders.
• Vent Clinic, a pulmonary specialty clinic designated for patients who are vent dependent. 

When a child has problems breathing, we want to find out why it’s happening, what is causing the problem, and begin treatment as soon as possible.

 

Breathing problems

• Aerodigestive disorders, that affect the respiratory and the digestive systems
• Asthma, chronic inflammation of the airways causing coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath.
• Persistent cough, a cough that has lasted 3 or more months
• Pneumonia, an infection of the lungs which can be viral, bacterial, or fungal and can cause fluid buildup in the lungs and difficulty breathing

Chronic lung disease

• Cystic fibrosis – a genetic disorder of the lungs and digestive system that can lead to chronic cough, recurrent pneumonia, chronic sinus infections, and difficulty gaining weight
• Bronchopulmonary dysplasia - damage to the lungs of premature newborns

Sleep disorders

• Sleep apnea, breathing problems that occur while a child is asleep.
• Insomnia, difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
• Narcolepsy, a disorder which causes excessive daytime sleepiness.

Breathing disorders in children are important to diagnose and treat because they have such a profound effect on their health and development.

• Newborn Screening, Our pediatric pulmonary function lab is accredited to perform sweat testing for cystic fibrosis. This test may be recommended based on newborn screen results or clinical signs/symptoms of cystic fibrosis.
• Sweat Testing, a test to diagnose cystic fibrosis
• Sleep studies, to diagnose sleep disorders like apnea
• Exercise Challenges, to diagnosis exercise induced asthma

Support Services  

We offer a range of support services to our patients and families

• Medical Social Worker
• Pediatric Pharmacist
• Child Life Specialists,  to help children understand and cope with treatment