Spirometry is a tool for identifying respiratory problems related to asthma. Children with asthma are best cared for with ongoing evaluation of their lung functioning.
Spirometry is the gold standard for measuring severity, and should be performed on any child over age 5 who can do the test.
The brief spirometry test requires a child to blow into a plastic tube connected to a computer to measure the flow rate of air out of the lungs. This allows us to identify children with below normal lung functioning and then prescribe medications that will allow lung function to return to normal. We encourage this testing at least yearly for children known to have asthma. Spirometry can be used to help diagnose asthma in children with suggestive symptoms.
This test is generally covered by insurance and we routinely bill our patients’ insurer.