Effect of Chest Physical Therapy in Pediatric Patients

소아 폐염 환자에서 시행한 흉부 물리치료의 효과

Object: We evaluated the efficacy of chest physical therapy in pediatric patients with pneumonia. Method: Retrospective study was performed in 89 pneumonia patients admitted to pediatric unit. The subjects were divided into two groups: control group; treatment group. Control group included 42 patients who didn't receive chest physical therapy. Treatment group included 47 patients who received chest physical therapy. The chest physcial therapy employed were postural drainage, chest percussion, deep breathing training and enhancement of coughings. The efficacy was evaluated by x-ray outcome before discharge. Results: There were no significant difference in age, sex, type of pneumonia, and symptom duration between two groups. However the duration of fever after admission, duration of antibiotic use and hospital stay were longer in treatment group. In treatment group, longer the day to initiate chest physical therapy, longer the hospital stay. The final outcome was not different between groups. Conclusion: The results suggest that the referred patients for chest physical therapy tends to be of severe cases. Nevertheless, the result that the outcome was not different in two groups means that the chest physical therapy could be used as a effective treatment method in pediatric patient with pneumonia.