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Pediatric chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) makes it difficult to breathe due to long-term damage that weakens or collapses the air sacs between the lungs.
COPD happens when long-term damage to the lungs makes it difficult to breathe. This is because the walls between the air sacs of the lungs become weak and may collapse. It is most common in adults who are current or former cigarette smokers.
Usually, when a child has difficulty breathing, a chronic cough or wheezing, it is due to asthma, a chronic lung infection or cystic fibrosis (CF). These symptoms may also be due to exposure to cigarette smoke, air pollution or other irritants.
Symptoms of COPD include:
Your child is more at risk for developing COPD later in life if they are exposed to cigarette smoke, or they smoke cigarettes themselves. There is some research that shows children with asthma or other lung problems may be at an increased risk of developing COPD later in life.