EFFECTS OF NEBULIZATION AND CHEST PHYSICAL THERAPY TO IMPROVE RESPIRATORY STATUS AMONG PEDIATRIC PNEUMONIA PATIENTS IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Abstract

Background: Pneumonia is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children under five, particularly in developing countries. Respiratory distress due to secretion retention is a major challenge in hospitalized pediatric patients, and treatment strategies such as nebulization and chest physiotherapy are widely used to improve pulmonary function. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of nebulization alone versus nebulization combined with chest physiotherapy in improving heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), and oxygen saturation (SpO₂) among pediatric pneumonia patients. Materials And Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted over six months in the pediatric ward of PNS Shifa Tertiary Care Hospital, Karachi. Children under four years with a confirmed diagnosis of pneumonia were randomly assigned into two groups: the experimental group received nebulization with chest physiotherapy, while the control group received nebulization only. Clinical outcomes (HR, RR, and SpO₂) were recorded pre- and post-intervention and analyzed using SPSS version 22. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Result: Both groups demonstrated significant improvements in respiratory parameters. Nebulization alone produced rapid reductions in HR and RR, while the combination therapy resulted in greater improvements in SpO₂, particularly among patients with severe baseline hypoxemia. Statistical analysis confirmed significant differences between groups post-intervention (p < 0.05), highlighting distinct benefits of each approach. Conclusion: Nebulization is highly effective for immediate relief of respiratory distress, whereas adding chest physiotherapy enhances oxygenation and pulmonary efficiency, especially in severely compromised patients. These findings support individualized treatment strategies and the integration of combined therapy for optimal management of pediatric pneumonia