A 7 year old boy is admitted to the General Paediatric ward with a community acquired pneumonia affecting the right lower lobe. It is suggested on the ward round that we arrange chest physiotherapy to try and reduce the length of his hospital stay. We wonder if there is evidence to support the use of physiotherapy in this case.

Clinical Bottom Line

1) There is no evidence that chest physiotherapy is of benefit in the treatment of children with community acquired pneumonia. (Level C)

2) There is some evidence that chest physiotherapy may prolong duration of fever in children with community acquired pneumonia. (Level C)

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Author

Dr Francis J Gilchrist

Paediatric SpR

Burnley General Hospital