Usefulness of chest physiotherapy with Positive Expiratory Pressure (PEP)‐mask in HIV‐infected children with recurrent pulmonary infections

Abstract

Eight children with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and recurrent bacterial pulmonary infections were treated using a Positive Expiratory Pressure (PEP)-mask twice a day for 12 months. At the end of the study, a reduction in the number of pulmonary infections [mean (SD) 2.1 (0.9) vs 4.5 (1) p < 0.0001] and antibiotic courses [mean (SD) 1.5 (0.7) vs 2.4 (0.9) p < 0.021] was noted. The PEP-mask is a chest physiotherapy technique for removing infected secretions and optimizing airway functions that is also useful in HIV-infected children.