Early Asthma Detection
December 7th, 2007 Posted by: Dr. Cox
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PITTSBURGH, Penn. (Ivanhoe Newswire) — It’s one of the leading causes of hospitalization for children. One in 10 kids suffers from asthma, yet doctors may sometimes have a difficult time getting an accurate diagnosis in very young patients.
Three-year old Naomi Shaviss landed in the hospital after her wheezing wouldnât go away. Her father was worried.
“Oh no. Are we about to have another episode? Is this bad?” Robert Shaviss says.
Robert says doctors began treating Naomi for asthma last year, but for some toddlers, a diagnosis is more difficult. With older children, doctors can use a test called spirometry to measure lung function thatâs nearly impossible for toddlers.
“We have to get children to fill their lungs completely up and blast it out very hard and fast. Most littler kids canât do that on their own,” says Daniel Weiner, M.D., a pediatric pulmonologist at Childrenâs Hospital of Pittsburgh of University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
Thatâs when doctors may use a special device to help them. During an infant lung function test, the child is sedated and placed in a special Plexiglas bed wearing a face mask. An inflatable bag is placed over the babyâs chest and a vest over that. Doctors fill the babyâs lungs, then quickly inflate the bag so the vest gives the child a squeeze, helping him forcefully exhale.
This technology is already used to test for chronic lung diseases like cystic fibrosis. Now, some are beginning to test kids they suspect have asthma, but arenât responding to treatment.
“Ten or 15 years ago people would say this is purely a research test and one should never take the risk of sedating a child to measure their lung function. But I think weâre finding that there are many reasons where itâs important to know their lung function,” Dr. Weiner says.
“You need to know whatâs going on because if you donât, asthma can be life-threatening,” Robert says. Unless itâs diagnosed-and kept under control.
The infant lung testing usually takes under two hours to complete. Patients go home the same day. By the age of five or six, doctors can successfully use spirometry to test patients.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh
Patient Information Line
(412) 692-7337