Table 2 Effects of chest physical therapy on clinical evolution of children hospitalised with acute pneumonia
OutcomesIntervention group(n = 47)Control group(n = 42)p Value
Time to clinical resolution4.0 (2.0–7.0)4.0 (3.0–6.0)0.84
Length of hospital stay6.0 (4.0–9.0)6.0 (4.0–8.0)0.76
Time to normal respiratory rate3.0 (0–7.0)3.0 (1.0–6.0)0.75
Time to normal arterial oxygen saturation (⩾95%)1.0 (0–2.0)0.5 (0–2.0)0.98
Time to normal lung auscultation4.0 (3.0–6.0)4.0 (2.0–6.0)0.28
Duration of fever2.0 (0–2.0)1.0 (0–3.0)0.78
Duration of coughing5.0 (4.0–8.0)4.0 (3.0–6.0)0.04
Duration of parent’s reported wheezing1.5 (0–5.0)1.0 (0–3.5)0.29
Duration of fine crackles0 (0–2.0)0 (0–2.0)0.72
Duration of coarse crackles2.0 (0–4.0)1.0 (0–3.0)0.83
Duration of wheezes0 (0–5.0)0 (0–4.0)0.62
Duration of rhonchi2.0 (0–4.0)0.5 (0–2.0)0.03
Duration of chest indrawing2.0 (0–3.0)2.0 (0–3.0)0.75

  • Number of days expressed as median (interquartile range).