We should bear in mind that the breathing health has become a global goal, present and future (Unite For Lungs Health 2017), usually little known, although the respiratory system illnesses have a very high prevalence and incidence in all groups of age; being the main cause of death among children under the age of five.
Nursing babies and small children are particularly likely to suffer respiratory problems, as nine million children below five die every year; being pneumonia the principle cause of death in the world for these children.
We already know there are different factors of respiratory immaturity, that ease breathing problems and that, at the same time, lead to unwanted adaptations:
- The continuous growth and development of the respiratory system in the early stages of life.
- An immune system that is immature.
- More vulnerability to the oxidative stress.
- High level of infection of respiratory pathogens.
- The patrons of activity that increase the exposition to the pollution in the air, increasing the doses, so they have more respiratory frequency.
- For premature babies all those factors can be even increased.
Due to this susceptibility, the baby and the child will make adaptations both in the superior area as in the inferior, so that they could cope with and overcome the respiratory illnesses. These adaptations will lead to physical changes in other parts of their bodies: physiological, postural, neurological, cranial and facial changes.
Could respiratory physiotherapy give answer to these adaptations?
In TMPI, we believe that these changes must be a priority in the evaluation and the later treatment, as they could have consequences in the correct development of the baby or child, modifying the stages or producing leaps in those stages; entering in a vicious cycle of new adaptations that would affect not only his future growth but also his development.
Only a global and integral view could give an answer to the adaptations and changes that babies and children suffer; supporting their families in a continuous learning.
To be continued…..
Would the auscultation be one of the tools for assessment and treatment?
Ubilla, Carlos, and Karla Yohannessen. “Contaminación atmosférica efectos en la salud respiratoria en el niño.” Revista Médica Clínica Las Condes 28.1 (2017): 111-118.
Chaves TC, de Andrade e Silva TS, Monteiro SA, Watanabe PC, Oliveira AS, Grossi DB. Craniocervical posture and hyoid bone position in children with mild and moderate asthma and mouth breathing. Int J PediatrOtorhinolaryngol. 2010 Sep;74(9):1021-7
Lee AL, Zabjek K, Goldstein RS, Brooks D. Systematic Review of Postural Assessment in Individuals With Obstructive Respiratory Conditions: MEASUREMENT AND CLINICAL ASSOCIATIONS. J CardiopulmRehabilPrev. 2017 Mar;37(2):90-10
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