title: Current concepts of respiratory diseases in childhood: the significance of physiological development.
abstract: Recent advances in pulmonary physiology have led to new concepts in the understanding of childhood respiratory disorders. The functional development of the respiratory system appears responsible for most of the age-related attributes of pediatric lung diseases. Increased understanding of the altered physiology of these disorders creates a new and improved basis for supportive care and therapy. The recognition of long lasting functional disturbances caused by some seemingly trivial childhood respiratory disorders suggests a close relationship to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in adulthood. Relevant developmental risk factors are defined; their influence on the manifestation of common pediatric respiratory disorders is discussed.
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000209:etiology*; D012143:Respiratory Physiological Phenomena; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000254:growth & development