Child Health A-Z

Respiratory Disorders

Respiratory illnesses can include a variety of problems, including colds, flu, runny noses, coughs, and sore throats. Some children may also have chronic illnesses that affect the breathing system, including asthma and cystic fibrosis (CF).

Picture of a young girl, in a hospital bed, with her mother

Nearly 30,000 people in the US are currently affected by CF, and about 1,000 babies are diagnosed with the disease each year.

About 22.2 million people in the US have been diagnosed with asthma, with at least 6.5 million of them children under the age of 18.

Most children will develop at least six to ten colds, or other respiratory illness a year. This number may even be higher in children who attend daycare.

Adolescents get colds, on average, two to four times a year. Ten percent to 15 percent of children with a respiratory infection may have pneumonia.

Last Update
February 25, 2008

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