Helpful Resources
Infant - 2 Years
Please note these links are to external sites. The links are for various locations in Australia which may have different resources available for CF to the place you are living in. These links are not managed by CFPhysio.com, we are not responsible for the content, accuracy, relevance or quality of the resources.
- Monash Children’s Hospital (VIC)
- John Hunter Children’s Hospital (NSW)
- Perth Children’s Hospital (WA)
- Queensland Children’s Hospital (QLD)
- Sydney Children’s Hospital (NSW)
- Women’s and Children’s Hospital (SA)
- Tasmanian Health Service (TAS)
- Tasmanian Health Service (TAS) - CF
- Cystic Fibrosis Australia (click on the relevant tab for your local region)
- Royal Children’s Hospital: Parent Information
- Community Resources | CFWA
- Resources - Cystic Fibrosis Queensland (cfqld.org.au)
- Applying for a FairPlay voucher | Recreation, sport and arts | Queensland Government (www.qld.gov.au)
- Red Nose Six Safe Sleep Recommendations | Red Nose Australia
- Child development 0–3 months (healthywa.wa.gov.au)
- RCH TV : Be Positive (B+)
- How to clean your nebuliser
- Year of the Frog | Cystic Fibrosis WA (cfwa.org.au)
This video has been developed by the Perth Children’s Hospital so there may be some differences in procedure if your child is attending a different clinic. We hope the video can provide you with some preparation for your child’s bronchoscopy. Often referred to as a BAL (bronchoalveolar lavage) this technique is used to help the medical team understand more closely what might be happening in your child’s airways and treat anything early if needed. When your child is too little to cough independently and produce secretions (sputum) from their lungs the BAL allows specimens to be collected and check if there are signs of inflammation and/or infection.
The audio files below allow you to listen to other children with CF and their different cough. There are also some helpful suggestions about what you are hearing and what this might mean for this child. Remember every child is different and if you have concerns about your child’s cough/chest please contact your CF care team.
Young child coughing during play
- You can often hear sputum when children are laughing
- Tickling can be a good way of getting a child to laugh and move secretions around
- If you child is old enough ending with a big cough is great
Toddler who is unwell with a chest infection
- Some respiratory illnesses make children cough very frequently
- Sometimes the cough is wet and some sputum is coughed up and swallowed
- A lot of the time, the cough is dry and can sound quite distressing
- Please let your CF team or GP know if you are concerned, especially if your child looks to be working hard with their breathing
Baby unwell with increase in sputum
- In babies who are unwell with a respiratory illness, sometimes you can hear sputum in their airways
- You might need to get your ear nice and close to be able to hear these sounds
- You can even place your hand on their chest and ‘feel’ for sputum moving in there
- Please let your CF team or GP know if you are hearing this and you are concerned
Child with wet cough
- When this child coughs, it sounds like there is some sputum there which is a bit sticky and difficult to clear
- Techniques you’ve learned like airway clearance or using certain nebulised medications will be helpful
