People with a chromosomal abnormality such as Down syndrome are more prone to respiratory infections during the winter. Let's see how to care for and protect respiratory health in people with Down syndrome.
Why are they more vulnerable to respiratory problems?
Because most of this population, due to their genetic condition, suffers from 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 larynx. In some cases, they may also present variations in the lower airways, which include the trachea, bronchi and their branches inside the lungs. On the other hand, they may 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 precautions to avoid exposure to risk and protect respiratory and lung health.
- Avoid crowded enclosed spaces in winter
- Frequent hand washing
- Wear a mask, whenever possible, when in contact with people who are not from the same family environment
The role 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 strengthening the respiratory muscles, especially to provide them with techniques for better cough managementThis allows the body and muscles of the respiratory system to be better prepared and strong enough to expel mucus (phlegm) when an infection occurs.
If you want to care for and protect respiratory health in people with Down Syndrome, the Lovexair Foundation has a team of trained respiratory physiotherapists with whom you can consult your questions without obligation through the HappyAir platform.
You can also write to info@happyair.org to receive information and guidance on these issues.
#NothingSeparatesUs
“If we have so many things in common, why do we let just one chromosome separate us?”
With this campaign, the DOWN ESPAÑA Federation aims to address the problem of the lack of friendships and opportunities for socialisation faced by people with Down syndrome 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).
Last updated on 7 March, 2026
