Respiratory Disorders
Anatomy of the Respiratory System
Signs of Respiratory Distress
Apnea of Prematurity
Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Acute Respiratory Disorders
Chronic Respiratory Disorders
Glossary
Online Resources
Related specialties at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital:
Allergy/Asthma/Immunology
Cystic Fibrosis Center
Pulmonary Medicine/Cystic Fibrosis
Pulmonary Function Laboratory
Heart-Lung and Lung Transplant
Respiratory Care Services
Respiratory illnesses can include a variety of problems, including colds, flu, runny noses, coughs, and sore throats. Some children may also have chronic illnesses that affect the breathing system, including asthma and cystic fibrosis (CF).
Nearly 30,000 people in the US are currently affected by CF, and about 1,000 babies are born with the disease each year.
About 20.5 million people in the US have been diagnosed with asthma, with at least 6.2 million of them children under the age of 18.
Most children will develop at least six to ten colds, or other respiratory illness a year. This number may even be higher in children who attend daycare.
Adolescents get colds, on average, two to four times a year. Ten percent to 15 percent of children with a respiratory infection may have pneumonia.
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