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How to care for and protect respiratory health in people with Down syndrome

March 21 | World Down Syndrome Day #QueNadaNosSepare An awareness day established by the United Nations to promote well-being, diversity and social inclusion.

 

March 21 | world down syndrome day

An awareness day promoted by the United Nations. The date, the 21st of the third month, indicates the uniqueness of the tripling (trisomy) of chromosome 21 that causes Down syndrome.

People with a chromosomopathy such as Down Syndrome are more prone to respiratory infections during the winter season.

Why are they more vulnerable to respiratory problems?

Because most of this population, due to their genetic condition, suffers morphological alterations in the upper airways, that is, in the parts of the respiratory system that go from the nose and mouth to the vocal cords, and includes the pharynx and the larynx. In some cases, they may also present variations in the lower pathways, which include the trachea, the bronchi and their ramifications inside the lungs. On the other hand, they can also present other complications or diseases, such as heart disease and pulmonary hypertension.

Another factor to take into account in this group is the possibility of suffering from some type of immune alteration, that is, that their defense system against possible infections is weakened. To this, other symptoms such as muscle weakness and dysphagia (difficulty swallowing or swallowing problems) are added.

In short, all these aspects make this population more vulnerable to respiratory infections, which can be very serious.

What care is needed to protect respiratory health?

The most common infections in people with Down syndrome are bronchiolitis, especially that caused by the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

There are also other frequent infections that affect the upper respiratory tract, such as sinusitis, middle ear infections, rhinitis, tonsillitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis. While in those of the lower airways, pneumonia or bronchiolitis can occur.

Other complications that are regularly observed in these patients is the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), established between 45 and 76%, sometimes associated with alveolar hypoventilation.

Lower respiratory tract conditions are the leading cause of hospitalization and admission to intensive care units in children with Down syndrome.

For these reasons, it is necessary to take the necessary care to avoid risk exposures and protect respiratory and lung health.

• Avoid crowded closed spaces, especially in winter
• frequent hand washing
• Use of a mask, whenever possible, when in contact with other people who are not from the same family environment.

The importance of respiratory physiotherapy

Due to all of the above described, people with Down Syndrome have greater difficulty in the ventilation process, that is, in the function of introducing air into the respiratory tract. For this, it is highly recommended to do preventive respiratory physiotherapy. In these treatments, all those techniques and exercises that facilitate and improve ventilation are practiced, so that the person can inhale more air and improve their well-being and general state of health.

Another aspect to work on is the strengthening of the respiratory muscles, especially to provide them with techniques for better cough management. This allows that, when an infectious picture appears, the body and the muscles of the respiratory system are better prepared and strong enough to expel mucus (mucus, phlegm).

The Lovexair Foundation has a team of trained respiratory physiotherapists with whom you can consult your doubts without obligation through the HappyAir platform. You can also write to info@happyair.org to receive information and guidance on these issues.

 

“If we have so many things in common, why do we let just one chromosome separate us?”  
With this campaign, the Federation DOWN SPAIN aims to address the problem of the lack of friendships and opportunities for socialization that people with Down syndrome face when they reach adolescence and adulthood (24% of the group say they have no friends and 62% have few or no opportunities to make new friends).