A IMPORTÂNCIA DA FISIOTERAPIA PEDIÁTRICA EM PACIENTES COM DISTÚRBIOS RESPIRATÓRIOS: UMA REVISÃO INTEGRATIVA

Respiratory diseases are one of the main causes of pediatric hospitalization and represent significant challenges for public health. Conditions such as bronchiolitis, asthma, pneumonia, and acute bronchitis directly affect lung function and, if not treated properly, can compromise the child's growth and development. In this context, respiratory physiotherapy stands out as a fundamental therapeutic resource, acting to clear the airways, improve ventilation, and prevent respiratory complications. The general objective of this study is to analyze the benefits of respiratory physiotherapy applied to pediatric patients with respiratory disorders, highlighting its contributions to the clinical and functional improvement of patients. This work was developed through an integrative review of the literature, with the aim of gathering and analyzing recent studies related to the performance of respiratory physiotherapy in children with respiratory disorders. The inclusion criteria were articles published between 2020 and 2025, available in full, written in Portuguese and English, and that specifically addressed physiotherapy applied to respiratory disorders in pediatric patients. Studies with different designs were accepted, the studies analyzed in this integrative review demonstrated that respiratory physiotherapy is an essential tool in the care of children with respiratory disorders, such as pneumonia, bronchiolitis, bronchitis and asthma. It was identified that the work of the physiotherapist contributes significantly to the improvement of respiratory symptoms, reduction of hospitalization time and prevention of pulmonary complications. Evidence shows that the early application of physiotherapeutic techniques contributes significantly to improving symptoms, preventing complications and reducing hospitalization time, in addition to promoting the rehabilitation of lung function.