Active breathing plus balloon-blowing for children with tuberculosis

Effects of the Active Cycle of Breathing Technique With and Without Balloon Blowing Therapy on Sputum Secretion, Dyspnea, and Functional Capacity in Children With Tuberculosis

This trial will test whether adding balloon-blowing exercises to the Active Cycle of Breathing Technique helps children aged 8–14 with tuberculosis clear sputum, reduce breathlessness, and walk farther.

Quick facts

• Phase: NA
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 34 (estimated)
• Ages: 8 Years to 14 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Riphah International University (other)
• Locations: 1 site (Lahore)
• Trial ID: NCT07484490 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This is a randomized controlled trial enrolling 34 children (ages 8–14) with pulmonary tuberculosis at Gulab Devi Teaching Hospital in Lahore. Participants are randomly assigned to receive either the Active Cycle of Breathing Technique (ACBT) alone or ACBT combined with balloon-blowing therapy over a 3-day intervention period. Outcomes include sputum volume measured with sputum cups, dyspnea measured by the Modified Borg scale, and functional capacity measured by the 6-Minute Walk Test, with data analyzed using SPSS v25. The trial focuses on short-term physiotherapy effects on airway clearance and exercise capacity in pediatric TB.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Children aged 8–14 years with diagnosed pulmonary tuberculosis who have excess airway secretions, can follow verbal commands, and whose parent or guardian can give informed consent are the ideal candidates.

Not a fit: Children with multi-drug-resistant TB, active hemoptysis, unconsciousness or inability to follow commands, or who received physical therapy in the past two weeks are excluded and unlikely to benefit from this protocol.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the combined therapy could provide a low-cost, noninvasive way to improve mucus clearance, reduce breathlessness, and increase functional walking capacity in children with tuberculosis.

How similar studies have performed: Previous work shows ACBT and balloon therapy can separately help airway clearance and respiratory muscle strength, but their combined use in pediatric tuberculosis is novel and not well established.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria

1. Children aged 8 to14 years
2. Diagnosed with tuberculosis
3. Patients with excessive pulmonary secretions and/or difficulty clearing airway secretions.
4. Adequate cognitive ability to understand and follow verbal commands and perform ACBT.
5. Informed consent from parent/guardian

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Diagnosed with multi-drug-resistant (MDR) TB
2. Presence of hemoptysis
3. The patient who is unconscious and unresponsive.
4. Received physical therapy intervention in the past 2 weeks

Where this trial is running

Lahore

• Gulab Devi Hospital — Lahore, Pakistan (RECRUITING)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Nayab shahid, MS-PT — RIPHAH INTERNATINAAL UNIVERSITY
• Study coordinator: IMRAN AMJAD, PhD

Conditions: Tuberculosis, Sputum secretion, Dyspnea, Functional Capacity, Balloon blowing therapy, Active cycle of breathing