Background

Condition Lookup

Sub-Category:

Chronic Conditions

Number of Conditions: 2

Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia

Specialty: Pediatrics

Category: Respiratory Disorders

Sub-category: Chronic Conditions

Symptoms:
chronic wet cough; recurrent sinus infections; frequent middle ear infections; difficulty breathing; infertility in males; recurrent pneumonia; situs inversus in some patients

Root Cause:
Dysfunctional cilia result from genetic mutations, impairing mucociliary clearance and causing buildup of mucus in the respiratory tract and other organs.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Nasal nitric oxide testing, electron microscopy of ciliary structure, genetic testing, and high-speed videomicroscopy analysis of ciliary movement.

Treatment:
Airway clearance techniques, antibiotics for infections, hearing aids for conductive hearing loss, and supportive care for respiratory symptoms.

Medications:
Antibiotics (e.g., azithromycin ) to prevent or treat infections, bronchodilators like albuterol for airway relaxation, and anti-inflammatory agents such as inhaled corticosteroids.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects 1 in 10,000 to 1 in 20,000 individuals worldwide.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Autosomal recessive inheritance; family history of the condition.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Varies based on severity; early diagnosis and management improve quality of life and reduce complications.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Chronic respiratory infections, bronchiectasis, hearing loss, infertility, and reduced lung function over time.

Chronic Lung Disease of Prematurity

Specialty: Pediatrics

Category: Respiratory Disorders

Sub-category: Chronic Conditions

Symptoms:
rapid breathing; difficulty breathing; need for supplemental oxygen; poor weight gain; recurrent respiratory infections; wheezing

Root Cause:
Underdeveloped lungs, inflammation, and oxygen therapy/mechanical ventilation cause scarring and impaired lung development in preterm infants.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical history (preterm birth and oxygen/ventilation dependency), chest X-rays, echocardiogram to rule out heart issues, and blood gas analysis.

Treatment:
Oxygen therapy, mechanical ventilation (if needed), nutritional support, and medications to reduce lung inflammation and improve breathing.

Medications:
Bronchodilators (e.g., albuterol ), diuretics (e.g., furosemide ) to manage fluid buildup, corticosteroids (e.g., dexamethasone ) to reduce inflammation, and surfactant replacement in early management.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects approximately 10,000–15,000 infants annually in the U.S., primarily those born before 30 weeks of gestation or with low birth weight.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Premature birth, mechanical ventilation, oxygen therapy, maternal infections, and intrauterine growth restriction.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Many infants improve with age, but some may have long-term respiratory issues, including asthma or reduced lung function.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Pulmonary hypertension, increased susceptibility to respiratory infections, asthma, and developmental delays related to chronic oxygen dependence.