Before requesting a stable pediatric pulmonology video review, prepare the items below as far as you can. None of them are required to start the conversation — but the more clearly the breathing story is captured, the more useful the consultation will be.
Child and family basics.
- Child's name, age, weight if known, and any growth concerns.
- Sex and any known allergies, including food, drug or environmental allergies.
- Birth history if the child is under three — preterm or term, birth weight, NICU stay, oxygen at birth.
- Vaccination status and any recent illnesses.
- Family history of asthma, allergy, eczema, lung disease, TB exposure, smoking exposure or sleep-disordered breathing.
The breathing story.
- What is the main symptom? Cough, wheeze, blocked nose, fast breathing, snoring or something else.
- When did it start? Was there a clear trigger such as a viral illness, exposure or activity?
- How does it behave? Worse at night, with exercise, after dust or pollen, after cold drinks, after eating, only on some days?
- Is the cough dry or wet? Is there phlegm? Any blood?
- Is sleep affected? Snoring, mouth breathing, restless sleep, pauses, gasping?
- How does the child play? Same as usual, slower, gets tired faster, refuses activity?
- What has been tried? Inhalers, nebulizers, antibiotics, antihistamines, syrups — and what helped or did not help.
Before sending anything else, confirm there are no current safety signs — chest indrawing, blue lips, drowsiness, poor feeding, persistent fast breathing with distress, low oxygen or rapidly worsening illness. If any of these are present, please go to in-person pediatric emergency care first.
Medicines and devices.
- A list of all current medicines, including doses if known. Photos of the prescription are perfect.
- The actual inhaler, spacer, mask or nebulizer kit ready to show on video — including the brand and dose.
- Any controllers (preventer inhalers) that have been started or stopped — and why.
- Past prescriptions — antibiotics, oral steroids, nebulizations — with dates if remembered.
- Any over-the-counter cough or cold medicines being used regularly.
Reports, if available.
Send photos or scans of any reports that may help. Do not delay the consultation to chase reports — most pattern reviews work fine without them. Useful reports include:
- Chest X-ray or CT scan reports and images.
- Lung function reports — spirometry, FeNO, oscillometry where available.
- Allergy test reports — skin prick test or specific IgE blood tests.
- Sleep study reports or short snore videos if sleep breathing is the concern.
- Bronchoscopy or endoscopy reports, if relevant.
- Blood reports if recently done — full blood count, infection markers, immune workup.
Short safe videos.
A short clip recorded calmly at home is often more useful than long descriptions. Only record when the child is calm and breathing comfortably. Do not film during distress.
- 10–20 seconds of the child breathing quietly — chest and tummy visible.
- A short cough clip, if the cough is the main concern.
- A short sleep clip with sound, if snoring or pauses are the concern.
- A short clip of the child using the inhaler with spacer, if technique is part of the question.
If your child is in acute distress, do not stop to record a video. Take the child to in-person pediatric emergency care immediately. Videos are useful for stable review only.
How to send it.
After the safety triage on the symptom navigator confirms a stable video review is appropriate, you will receive a clear way to share the items above — over a secure channel, not over open WhatsApp message threads. WhatsApp is used only for appointment coordination, not for emergency care or for sharing full medical records.
Parent questions.
i.Do I need to send everything before booking?
No. You only need the basics first — child age, main concern, duration and any safety signs. The rest can be sent before the consultation. The goal is a useful review, not a paperwork exercise.
ii.What if I do not have any reports?
That is fine. Many families come without reports. The pattern, history and a careful description of what you see at home are more important than imaging.
iii.Should I send videos?
Only if you can record them safely without delaying urgent care. A short clip of the breathing pattern, cough sound, snoring or wheeze can be more useful than long descriptions. Do not film during distress.
iv.How will the information be kept private?
Information shared for consultation is treated as confidential medical information. Reports and notes are stored and shared only as needed for the child's care, as outlined in the legal page.
Structured history-taking is a long-standing pillar of pediatric pulmonology. The frameworks below shape how breathing stories are captured here — listed for transparency, not as endorsement.
Send the breathing story for safety and suitability review.
Start with the symptom you actually see at home.
A short framework for pediatricians and other doctors sending patients.
Help with understanding spirometry, allergy and imaging reports.