Cough, wheezing and breathing difficulties are common in childhood. When symptoms persist, keep returning or affect sleep, exercise or everyday life, further assessment may help establish the cause and identify appropriate treatment.
Dr Sheng-Ang Ho is a Consultant Paediatrician specialising in paediatric respiratory medicine. He offers private consultations at Spire Manchester Hospital for children with a range of respiratory concerns.
Respiratory problems assessed
- Asthma and recurrent wheezing: Assessment of recurring wheeze, cough, breathlessness and exercise-related symptoms.
- Persistent cough: Investigation of ongoing or recurrent cough, including persistent wet cough.
- Recurrent chest infections: Review of repeated respiratory infections and whether further investigation is appropriate.
- Breathlessness and exercise-related symptoms: Assessment of breathing difficulties during activity or everyday life.
- Sleep-related breathing problems: Assessment of snoring and symptoms that may suggest obstructive sleep apnoea.
- Complex respiratory conditions: Specialist advice for selected children with more complex respiratory problems.
What does an assessment involve?
The consultation includes a detailed history, examination and review of previous investigations and treatments. Depending on your child's symptoms and age, lung function testing or other investigations may be considered.
Not every cough or episode of wheezing is caused by asthma. Careful assessment helps consider alternative explanations and identify an appropriate management plan.
Specialist interests
Dr Ho's specialist interests include difficult-to-treat asthma, cystic fibrosis, bronchoscopy and sleep-related breathing disorders.