Vibration in the treatment of some respiratory diseases in infants

The article was professionally consulted with Master, Doctor Vu Quoc Anh - Pediatrician - Department of Pediatrics - Neonatology - Vinmec Danang International General Hospital.

Some respiratory diseases, especially lung diseases, often cause sputum secretion inside the respiratory tract. Sputum, if not expelled, will thicken and stick to the bronchial mucosa, causing coughing.
In young children, especially infants, when suffering from respiratory diseases, children cough with sputum, a lot of sputum will make them tired, uncomfortable, and sleep poorly. Some children cough but cannot expel sputum, which will cause more sputum to accumulate in the lungs and cannot improve the condition. Therefore, thoracic vibrating therapy has been applied to infants to loosen phlegm, stimulate children to cough and expel sputum.
Thoracic pulsation is applied to children who cough with phlegm due to respiratory diseases such as: lung abscess (the stage of pus escaping), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchiectasis, bronchitis chronic, or sick children have to lie down for a long time, ...

Vibration therapy will loosen phlegm, open airways, increase air circulation and contribute to improving lung function in particular and breathing in general.
Thoracotomy has the following advantages: low cost of treatment due to the absence of drugs, reduced hospital stay, flexibility because it can be performed at the hospital or at home by a doctor, nurse or family member of the patient. young.

The way to sputum expectorate in neonates is done as follows:
Clap: When patting, you need to pat the chest with your hands to loosen the sputum stuck in the bronchi, then the sputum will be drained into the bronchi. larger, then the cough reflex will expel the sputum. Perform patting by closing your fingers and cupping, then patting your baby's chest and back. Pat with a force equivalent to shaking the wrist, patting evenly and continuously. Perform patting for about 1-3 minutes for each area. Vibration: After patting, it is necessary to continue to vibrate the chest to help the child cough with phlegm to expel the sputum. Vibration moves as follows, place your hands on top of each other in front of the child's chest, behind or on either side of the child's chest. Then, vibrate gently and moderately, avoiding hurting the baby.

Vibration is often combined with postural drainage to increase the effectiveness of expectoration, stimulate the child to cough, and push the sputum out. After that, the child is cleaned of the nose and throat to clear the blockage.
Postural drainage: With side-lying, supine or sitting positions, the mother supports and makes it easier for the baby to breathe by placing her hands on the child's chest as the child exhales. Postural drainage helps to reduce bronchial resistance, and children with coughs with phlegm will breathe easier. Reducing congestion in the nose and throat: Reducing congestion in the nasopharynx is to stimulate the child to sneeze, cough and then clean the nasal cavity and nasopharynx of the child. Perform by placing the child on his or her back or face to one side, then, use physiological saline drops into the nostrils, letting the saline flow in. Do the same with the other nose, then place the child on his or her stomach or half-sitting to let the nasal secretions out.

When performing vibrating in the treatment of some respiratory diseases in children with cough with phlegm, it should be noted:
Should be performed for about 15 - 30 minutes, depending on the child's condition. Before patting and vibrating, it is necessary to clean and clear the sputum in the baby's nose and throat. It is recommended to perform patting when the child's stomach is empty, ie 1 to 2 hours before or after eating to avoid making the child vomit.

When patting, the performer needs to remove the jewelry on the hand, remove the child's clothes so as not to reduce the impact force. Do not tap the child's spine, breastbone or stomach. Stop vibrating when the child has abnormal respiratory symptoms. Ensure hygiene when performing vibrating flaps. Children with a cough with sputum, a lot of sputum need to be shaken and combined with postural drainage to help loosen phlegm, stimulate children to cough, from which sputum stagnant in the bronchi is pushed out easily, improving function. children's respiration.
Pediatrics department at Vinmec International General Hospital is the address for receiving and examining diseases that infants and young children are susceptible to: viral fever, bacterial fever, otitis media, pneumonia in Children and many other respiratory diseases.... With modern equipment, sterile space, minimizing the impact as well as the risk of disease spread. Along with that is the dedication from the doctors with professional experience with pediatric patients, making the examination no longer a concern of the parents.