Abstract
Pulmonary function tests are performed in children for the same reasons as in adults; that is, for diagnosis, management, and research purposes. In children over the age of about 6 years, tests of lung function such as spirometry, lung volumes, maximal expiratory flow-volume curves, and diffusing capacity are performed in children in much the same way as in adults. In this review, we will concentrate on those factors that make pulmonary function testing in children different from adults, specifically, technical factors and factors related to somatic and lung growth. We also will give examples of how pulmonary function tests can be used to diagnose and manage the course of lung disease in children. At the end of the article, we briefly will review experimental techniques for testing young children.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 661-667 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Clinics in Chest Medicine |
| Volume | 8 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| State | Published - Dec 1 1987 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine