Assessment of Pulmonary Function in Schoolchildren and Adolescents

Abstract

Assessment of pulmonary function in schoolchildren and adolescents provides the clinician with a physiopathological approach to the respiratory system. This contributes to the clinical diagnosis, assessment of the severity of the condition, assessment of the therapeutic response, and, in some cases, establishment of the prognosis of the disease. Spirometry is by far the most frequently used technique because is simple, fast, and widely available. Patients who have persistent respiratory symptoms or are suspected of having a respiratory disease should be studied with spirometry first before considering other pulmonary function test.