Respiratory conditions affect the respiratory system and can cause problems with breathing. The respiratory system is made up of the nose, throat, windpipe and lungs. In children the conditions may be chronic or congenital such as asthma or cystic fibrosis and require lifelong management. Babies born prematurely may have respiratory complications as the lungs are not properly developed. Other conditions are short lived and treatable such as viral or bacterial infections e.g. croup or bronchiolitis. Children are more susceptible to infection as their airways are smaller, however advances in treatment mean they are normally treatable and usually not life threatening.