Exploring the effect of physiotherapy interventions on respiratory tract infections in hospitalized children: A review of the existing evidence

Background: Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) are a major contributor to hospital admissions in children, often leading to extended stays and higher use of healthcare resources. Physiotherapy has been proposed as a complementary intervention to enhance respiratory function and support recovery in these patients.Objective: This review aims to assess and synthesize the current evidence regarding the effectiveness of physiotherapy interventions in the management of respiratory tract infections among hospitalized children.Methods: A comprehensive literature search was performed across major databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, SID, and Google Scholar. The search focused on studies examining physiotherapy interventions for children hospitalized with respiratory tract infections, assessing outcomes such as symptom relief, length of hospital stay, lung function, and occurrence of complicationsResults:Current findings indicate that physiotherapy modalities—such as airway clearance techniques, respiratory exercises, and patient mobilization—may contribute to improved respiratory parameters and shorter hospitalization in select groups of pediatric patients. However, the evidence base is characterized by variability in study quality and results, with some interventions yielding modest or uncertain advantages.Conclusion:Physiotherapy holds promise as a supportive measure in the treatment of pediatric RTIs. Nonetheless, additional rigorously designed randomized controlled trials are necessary to establish standardized treatment guidelines and verify effectiveness across various clinical settings.

کلیدواژه ها:

Physiotherapy interventions ، Respiratory tract infections ، children