In teen kids with DMD, we want to maintain what hygiene?

• A. Oral hygiene
• B. Skin hygiene
• C. Pulmonary hygiene
• D. Visual hygiene

Answer: (C)

In teens with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, breathing and coughing muscles weaken, which makes it harder to clear airway secretions. Keeping pulmonary hygiene up is essential because it helps maintain airway clearance, reduces the risk of infections like pneumonia, and helps prevent respiratory decline as the disease progresses. Practical approaches include regular airway clearance techniques (such as chest physiotherapy and postural drainage), cough assistance or devices to improve coughing effectiveness, incentive spirometry, humidification to keep secretions thin, and, when needed, appropriate ventilatory support.

Oral hygiene, while important for dental health; skin hygiene, important for preventing sores in people who are less mobile; and visual hygiene are not the primary concerns driving care in this context. The focus on pulmonary hygiene directly addresses the respiratory vulnerabilities seen in DMD and helps maintain overall function and quality of life.