Helping Children Breathe Easier: Specialized Pediatric Pulmonary Care at Blue Ridge Health
Persistent coughing, frequent wheezing, difficulty keeping up with friends, or repeated respiratory illnesses may feel like a normal part of childhood. But when these symptoms persist or keep returning, they may signal an underlying condition that deserves closer attention.
At Blue Ridge Health (BRH), specialized pediatric pulmonary care is helping children and families across Western North Carolina find answers, manage respiratory conditions, and enjoy healthier, more active lives.
Dr. Steven Julius, a board-certified pediatric pulmonologist at Blue Ridge Health – Buncombe, provides specialized care that remains relatively scarce in Western North Carolina. Previously identified by BRH as one of only two pediatric pulmonologists in the region, Julius brings expertise that can make a meaningful difference for children and families who might otherwise face significant barriers to specialty care.
Asthma is the most common condition treated through BRH’s pediatric pulmonary program. Although it is a familiar diagnosis, asthma is not always easily recognized or adequately controlled. Symptoms may also be described as reactive airway disease, recurrent wheezing or recurrent bronchitis.
Many children with asthma continue to experience preventable symptoms, missed school, disrupted sleep, repeated courses of medication and visits to urgent care or emergency departments. Families may assume these challenges are simply part of living with asthma, but they can indicate that treatment needs to be reassessed.
For Julius, the goal of specialty care extends well beyond controlling symptoms. It is about helping children sleep well, participate in sports and other activities, attend school consistently and enjoy childhood without unnecessary limitations.
Recognizing When a Child Needs Additional Care
While an occasional cough or respiratory infection is common in childhood, certain patterns should prompt parents and caregivers to consult their child’s healthcare provider.
These include coughing that lasts longer than four weeks, repeated episodes of wheezing or pneumonia, breathing difficulties during exercise, nighttime coughing that disrupts sleep, or symptoms that continue despite treatment.
Children who require repeated courses of oral steroids, experience severe respiratory episodes or miss school and activities because of breathing problems may also benefit from a specialized evaluation.
Julius emphasizes that frequent respiratory symptoms, activity limitations and repeated urgent medical visits should not automatically be accepted as normal. Earlier recognition and referral can lead to a clearer diagnosis, more effective treatment, fewer unnecessary medications and medical visits, and a better quality of life.
Comprehensive Care for Common and Complex Conditions
Blue Ridge Health’s pediatric pulmonary program serves infants, children and adolescents through age 18. Established patients may continue receiving care into early adulthood when their conditions require ongoing pediatric specialty management.
In addition to asthma, the program evaluates and treats chronic cough, recurrent croup, noisy breathing, sleep-disordered breathing, including obstructive sleep apnea, and a variety of other respiratory concerns.
The team also provides care for children with complex conditions such as cystic fibrosis, congenital lung abnormalities, neuromuscular disorders affecting breathing, and respiratory conditions requiring supplemental oxygen or specialized equipment.
Care is delivered through a collaborative team that includes a board-certified pediatric pulmonologist, pediatric pulmonary nurse and pediatric respiratory therapist. Working alongside other BRH healthcare professionals and pediatric specialists, the team considers each child’s respiratory health within the broader context of growth, development and overall well-being.
For children with asthma, specialty services may include diagnostic evaluation, identifying triggers, reviewing inhaler technique, adjusting medications and developing individualized treatment and action plans. Family education and ongoing support are essential parts of helping children achieve better control of their symptoms.
Bringing Specialized Care Closer to Home
For families in Western North Carolina, access to pediatric specialty care can present significant challenges. Long travel distances, transportation difficulties, missed work and school, and additional expenses can make ongoing treatment particularly difficult for families in rural communities.
Through its pediatric pulmonary program at Blue Ridge Health – Buncombe, BRH is helping address those barriers by making specialized respiratory care available closer to home.
This local access is especially valuable for children with chronic conditions requiring regular follow-up, diagnostic testing, medication management and coordination among multiple healthcare professionals.
Julius emphasizes that pediatric pulmonology is not reserved for children with rare or unusually complex illnesses. Children experiencing common but persistent respiratory problems may benefit just as much from specialized attention.
For parents and caregivers, the message is simple: If a child’s breathing difficulties are persistent, recurring or interfering with everyday life, it may be time to seek additional guidance.
With appropriate evaluation and treatment, more children can breathe comfortably, sleep soundly, stay active and spend more time enjoying childhood.
To learn more about pediatric pulmonary services or scheduling an appointment with Dr. Steven Julius, contact Blue Ridge Health – Buncombe at 828-698-2979. A referral from the child’s primary care provider is required.