Respiratory Medicine | KK Women's and Children's Hospital

An estimated 20% of the children in Singapore suffer from asthma. In addition, statistics show that 20% of normal children snore occasionally and 7% to 10% have habitual snoring. Most children who snore are healthy, but about one per cent of them may snore due to sleep and/or breathing problems. The risk is higher if they have large tonsils and adenoids, conditions affecting the central nervous system and/or muscle, anatomical abnormality of the jaw or face, a family history of sleep or breathing problems, or are obese.

A key referral centre in Singapore for breathing and sleep-related disorders, our Respiratory Medicine Service cares for a large number of children ranging from newborns to those below 18 years old.

We also partner family physicians and paediatricians to facilitate the medical care and management of our patients at community level.

Range of Services

General respiratory conditions
Asthma management
- Asthma counselling is an integral part of the asthma management, and is conducted by experienced asthma nurses.
- We educate patients and their caregivers on the disease and the importance of adherence to treatment.
- We teach and reinforce correct inhaler techniques during each visit, and provide each child with an asthma action plan that empowers them and their caregivers to manage mild asthma exacerbations.
Chronic lung diseases
Respiratory tract infections
Sleep related breathing disorders
General sleep disorders
Pulmonary assessment
- We have a pulmonary function laboratory capable of performing spirometry, lung volume/diffusion/exhaled nitric oxide tests as well as challenge tests for asthma.
- We perform skin prick tests for evaluation of the atopic/allergic child.
- We also conduct cardiopulmonary exercise tests as part of the evaluation for children with difficulties with exercising.
Primary ciliary dyskinesia diagnostic service
Paediatric flexible bronchoscopy and bronchoalveolar lavage
Video polysomnography and mean sleep latency tests
- Our Sleep Disorders Centre consists of a 2-room facility performing 10 sleep studies a week.
- The video polysomnography and the multiple sleep latency tests enable evaluation of a wide range of sleep disorders including sleep related breathing disorders, parasomnias, hypersomnias, and periodic limb movement disorders.

Conditions We Treat

Asthma Asthma in Children Childhood Respiratory Conditions and Sleep Disorders Chronic Lung Disease Chronic Lung Disease (Child) Lung Infection Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia Respiratory Infections Sleep Disorder Breathing Sleep Disorders Sleep-Disordered Breathing and Snoring

Treatments offered

Bronchoscopy Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test Overnight Polysomnography (In Hospital Sleep Study) Skin Prick Test for Allergen Identification

Contact Information

100 Bukit Timah Rd

Level 5, Children's Tower

KK Women's & Children's Hospital

Singapore 229899

Our Care Team

Recent News

Announcements New Singapore Study to Assess Growing Prevalence and Impact of Food Allergies Landmark four-year joint study led by NUH and NUS Medicine, in collaboration with KKH, NUP and SSHSPH, is the first and largest to involve over 2,000 children in addressing food allergies

26 Jun 2025 Read Story

Announcements KKH unveils new mental wellness framework to boost community support for youth mental health KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH) today launched the community-based Youth Connect Psychological Interventions framework, in partnership with Temasek Foundation. Developed by clinical psychologists from KKH and James Cook University, Singapore (JCU), in collaboration with school counsellors and youth social service agencies , the framework aims to empower community groups to support adolescents, aged 10 to 19 years, experiencing mild to mild-moderate mental health concerns.

20 Jun 2025 Read Story

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