Pediatric Pulmonology

Lung care for children

It's hard seeing your child struggle to breathe. At UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals, we help your child, and you, breathe easier. Our pediatric pulmonologists, respiratory therapists and otolaryngologists (ear, nose and throat specialists) work together to provide comprehensive, effective lung care.

The team at our nationally ranked pulmonology program cares for children of all ages with mild to complex lung conditions, including:

• Asthma

• Allergies

• Chronic cough

• Chronic lung disease

• Cystic fibrosis

• Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)

• Sleep disorders

State-of-the-art lung testing

We offer kid-friendly, expert diagnostic services to identify the cause of your child's symptoms and develop a treatment plan that works for them. Testing may include:

• Pulmonary function lab tests. We provide a full range of heart and lung tests, including testing for asthma triggers and infant lung conditions.

• Sleep test. Your child may have a polysomnography (sleep study) to diagnose sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea.

• Bronchoscopy. During a pediatric bronchoscopy, our experienced providers use a small scope to view your child's airway and lungs.

Comprehensive lung treatment

We deliver effective lung treatments while minimizing anxiety and discomfort for your child. Our team, including pediatric pulmonologists and respiratory therapists, partners with families to help protect their child's lungs from long-term damage and control symptom flare-ups.

We may recommend lung treatments, such as:

• Respiratory support

• Preventive care

• Surgery

Specialized pulmonary programs

Through specialty programs, our pulmonologists provide disease-specific lung care. Their advanced training and expertise enable them to understand the complexities of pediatric pulmonary disorders and meet your child's unique needs.

Neonatal lung care

Pediatric pulmonologists work closely with neonatologists in the neonatal intensive care unit to provide advanced lung care to our tiniest patients.

Asthma care

Our pediatric asthma program offers lung testing and treatments for children with mild to severe asthma. We work with families to help control their child's asthma symptoms so they can safely enjoy exercise and daily activities.

In Oakland, the Asthma Clinic at 5220 Claremont Ave. only sees patients who currently receive care at the Claremont Primary Care Clinic. Families should call 510-428-3226 for an appointment.

Pediatric primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) program

We offer PCD testing and comprehensive, specialized care for children with this rare lung disorder.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) program

UCSF's pediatric pulmonary hypertension program is one of the leading pediatric PH programs in the U.S., providing compassionate, long-term care for children with this rare condition.

Certified cystic fibrosis program

Accredited by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF), we offer comprehensive cystic fibrosis care for children of all ages.

Aerodigestive care

An otolaryngologist, gastroenterologist and pulmonologist provide integrated aerodigestive care for children with breathing, feeding and swallowing issues.

Pediatric tracheostomy and ventilator program

We care for children with tracheostomies who need mechanical ventilation (breathing machines) at home. We help your child enjoy a good quality of life and meet their developmental milestones. Our team also provides comprehensive support to parents and caregivers so they can focus on spending time with their children.