Pediatric Respiratory Disorders

摘要

The project evaluated the progress made by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institutes Pediatric Pulmonary Diseases Program since enactment of the Heart, Blood Vessel, Lung, and Blood Act of 1972. The Pediatric Pulmonary Diseases Program seeks to prevent, if possible, and improve the prognosis for patients with cystic fibrosis, bronchiolitis, respiratory distress syndrome, and other pediatric pulmonary diseases. The main questions addressed in the project were: (1) What progress had been made in pediatric pulmonary disease in meeting the goals since 1972; (2) What directions or goals seemed appropriate for future development. During the first phase of the evaluation, a Steering Committee arrived at a consensus on the disease subcategories to be evaluated and a framework within which progress and needs could be assessed. The authors concluded that several advances in biology and medicine made it possible over the past decade to address a variety of pulmonary diseases and disorders in pediatric age group. They also concluded that many areas of pediatric pulmonary diseases need further research. Among these areas are cystic fibrosis, sudden infant death syndrome, asthma control, prevention of lung injury in low birth weight infants on respirators, and home care versus hospital care for certain disorders.