The pediatric physical therapist may encounter infants, toddlers, children, and adolescents with acute respiratory illnesses or chronic pulmonary dysfunction. Evaluation of these patients should include assessment for signs of respiratory distress, assessment of breathing pattern and cough, auscultation, percussion and palpation of the chest, as well as evaluation of the development status of the infant and toddler, and assessment of the strength, posture, and exercise capacity of the child and adolescent. A complete cardiopulmonary evaluation is essential in determining an appropriate treatment plan and identifying improvement or decline in the child's condition.