When can you use a nebulizer?

Posted on by admin

Nebulizer – inhalation in a modern way!

Operating principle

It is the particle size of the medicinal solution that allows it to penetrate into the deep parts of the respiratory organs ( bronchial tubes and even bronchioles ), which enhances the effect of the procedure and accelerates the effect of the drug.

Table of contents:

How is it better than regular steam inhalation?

  • Side effects are less common
  • The medicine starts working faster
  • Less medication is needed.

Application

1. Conditions in which the use of other types of inhalers is ineffective

2. Diseases in which it is necessary for the drug to enter the alveoli of the lungs.

Inhalation

1. The patient should take a sitting position, not talk, the device should be placed vertically.

2. The procedure should be carried out 1.5 hours after a meal. For an hour after the procedure, you should stay indoors, not eat, and try to talk less.

3. If the larynx or throat is inflamed, air should be drawn in and released through the mouth. There is a special mask for this.

4. If the bronchi, trachea or lungs are affected, then air is also drawn in through the mouth, but using a mouthpiece.

5. Before introducing the medicine into the device, you should check whether the expiration date has passed.

6. Only sterile saline solution, drawn up with sterile syringes, can be used as a drug solvent.

7. The device is filled to 2–4 milliliters, and the gas should come out at a speed of 1/min. In some devices this indicator is set by default.

8. During the procedure, air is drawn in through the mouth, slowly and as deeply as possible. After inhaling, you should hold your exhalation for a second. But if the patient’s condition is serious, you can do without it.

9. The duration of the procedure is from 5 to 10 minutes, the last minutes of the procedure can be lightly tapped on the device so that the medicine is shaken.

10. If hormonal agents or antibiotics were administered by inhalation, at the end of the procedure you should rinse your mouth with clean water.

11. After the procedure, the device should be washed with water ( preferably sterile ), and thoroughly dried with a hairdryer and absorbent cloth.

12. Treatment duration is from 5 to 10 procedures.

Use for a runny nose

Therefore, to treat a runny nose, you should set a regimen with large particles, which will achieve a more significant result.

If the nasal discharge has acquired a purulent yellow-green color, you should consult a doctor, since inhalations alone will most likely not be enough.

For children

Due to the fact that the drug enters directly into the respiratory tract, it is an effective method of treating acute respiratory infections in children. This treatment has almost no side effects, since the dosage of the drug is minimal.

The nebulizer can be used to moisten the mucous membranes of the child’s nose and throat in rooms with dry air, central heating, using regular saline solution.

1. This is an absolutely safe method ( for example, the possibility of getting burned by hot steam is excluded ).

2. The procedure can be done at home.

3. The device is very easy to use.

4. The device can also be used for preventive purposes.

5. The procedure goes completely unnoticed by the patient ( the child can sleep and inhale the medicinal solution ).

1. Do not dilute the solution for treating children with ordinary clean water, this may provoke bronchospasm.

2. Do not use fatty oils, they are harmful to the child’s respiratory system.

3. Do not select the dosage of the drug yourself.

Nebulizer solutions

  • Bronchodilators ( ventolin nebula, salgim, astalin, berotec )
  • Mucolytics ( ambroxol, fluimucil, pulmozyme )
  • Hypertonic solution ( as a mucolytic )
  • Saline solution ( to moisturize mucous membranes )
  • Hormonal medications ( pulmicort )
  • Antiallergic medications
  • Antibiotics ( fluimucil )
  • Antiseptics
  • Antifungal agents
  • Low alkaline mineral water ( Narzan, Borjomi ).

You should not independently invent medicinal preparations for use in a nebulizer, for example, by crushing tablets in a mortar and diluting them with water.

The temperature of the solution must be at least 20 degrees Celsius.

To dilute the medicine, only saline solution should be used. Even distilled water should not be used.

If the use of several drugs in the form of inhalations is prescribed, they should be done in sequence with an interval of 15 minutes.

You should not use medications such as papaverine, aminophylline, diphenhydramine, platyphylline , as well as oil preparations and systemic hormones.

Before starting the procedure, you should carefully study the instructions for the device, since some medications are prohibited from being used in certain types of nebulizers.

Use for cough

  • Bronchodilators ( salgim, berotec, berodual )
  • Mucolytics ( lazolvan, ambrohexal, fluimucil )
  • Relieving inflammation ( pulmicort, cromohexal )
  • Suppresses the cough reflex ( lidocaine ).

The use of alkaline mineral waters is effective. They make sputum more liquid and facilitate its removal from the bronchi.

Use at temperature

Nebulizer Recipes

For adult patients and children from 7 years of age - diluted in a 1:1 ratio with saline solution,

Malyshamlet: diluted with 1 part medicine and 2 parts saline solution,

For babies under 1 year: 1 part medicine to 3 parts saline solution.

For the procedure, 3 - 4 ml of solution is enough in the morning, lunch and evening.

How to choose a device?

Disadvantage: you can only use ready-made medications, as well as the noise produced.

Disadvantages: an expensive device, not everyone can afford it; if the solution is prepared from a suspension, antibiotic or hormones, it may not work.

Compressor nebulizers ( also known as jet nebulizers or pneumatic nebulizers ) spray a medicinal solution using compressed oxygen or air.

In turn, they are divided into convection and T-tube ( these can produce an aerosol constantly, without interruption ).

Inhalation-activated ( Venturi ) – produce an aerosol continuously, but its amount increases during inhalation. These devices are more economical.

Dosimetric with a flow sensor - they produce an aerosol only in the first third of the air intake phase, which makes it possible to adjust the level of drug use. These devices are the most expensive and are used to support people suffering from cystic fibrosis and to irrigate the bronchi with surfactant preparations.

Read more:
Reviews
Leave feedback

You can add your comments and feedback to this article, subject to the Discussion Rules.

Source: http://www.tiensmed.ru/news/nebulaizer1.html

Inhalations for children

During the period from autumn to spring, acute respiratory diseases are not uncommon. The worst thing is when the youngest members of the family suffer from this. At such moments, all means are used to alleviate the baby’s suffering and cure the cold. Inhalations for children are the most effective method to speed up the healing process and relieve the severity of symptoms. For all parents, this issue is acute and many are increasingly turning to the treatment of childhood diseases with effective methods. How to properly inhale children and what to use for this, read on.

How to give inhalation to a child

Inhalation is characterized as the treatment of respiratory diseases by directly administering drugs to inflamed areas of the respiratory system. This method of treatment is considered the fastest, most reliable and safest if you want to cure your child in a short time. For this, nebulizers are needed that allow you to perform the treatment procedure using pure steam, essential oils, potato or herbal decoctions, etc.

In the modern age, there are a huge number of such devices that facilitate the process of inhalation and are used for children of different ages. There are no specific age-related contraindications for this procedure for children (except for newborn infants and one-year-old babies); it is important to persuade the baby so as not to scare him.

When to do it

You will definitely need an inhaler for children to effectively treat respiratory diseases. Diseases that can be treated with inhalations include:

Performing inhalation for children must comply with all rules that comply with the following recommendations:

  • plan inhalation so that there is a break of at least an hour between food and manipulation;
  • when the baby breathes, put him to sleep;
  • the duration of inhalation should be no more than three minutes in children;
  • An effective course of treatment with inhalations consists of at least 10 sessions.

Types of inhalers

Depending on the disease that needs to be treated, there are different types of inhalers. Some of them are aimed at eliminating cough, others help normalize breathing in the nasal sinuses, others are used for sore throat, asthma, etc. There are also universal devices that make it possible to effectively treat diseases at home. Check them out in more detail below.

Attention! Sovets.net readers recommend:

- Bad breath is caused by parasites! Find out how to get rid of it >>>

- Nail fungus will no longer bother you! Elena Malysheva tells how to defeat fungus.

— Losing weight quickly is now available to every girl, Polina Gagarina talks about it >>>

— Elena Malysheva: Tells you how to lose weight without doing anything! Find out how >>>

Nebulizer

The term “nebulizer” itself comes from “nebula” and literally means fog or cloud. The appearance of this device back in the 18th century was characterized by the transformation of liquid with drugs into an aerosol for inhalation. The difference between a nebulizer and steam devices is that it creates a flow of medicinal microparticles using the aerosol method. Today's pharmacies offer to choose and buy these electrical devices from leading manufacturers at different prices (Omron, Gamma, Geyser, Spacer).

Compressor

In this case, the air that enters through a narrow opening is subject to low pressure. As a result, the air speed increases, and the liquid from the chamber is also sucked into the low pressure area. Here the medicine begins to interact with the air flow, breaking down into tiny particles, which end up in the most remote areas of the respiratory tract.

In order to somehow attract children to the inhalation process, manufacturers of such equipment try to create an interesting look. This option includes a compressor inhaler called “Locomotive” from Omron. It has a beautiful, bright look like a toy locomotive, and is equipped with all the necessary tubes and masks that are used for breathing using different methods. It can be used even by a 4-month-old child.

Ultrasonic

The action of such an immobilizer is based on the influence of the therapeutic liquid by high-frequency ultrasonic waves, resulting in the formation of an inhaler aerosol. However, it is not advisable to use drugs for inhalation in this case, because ultrasonic frequencies destroy high-molecular compounds of antibiotics, mucolytics and other medications. It is better to use herbal decoctions or saline solutions with medicine.

Steam

This type of nebulizer is based on the effect of evaporation of volatile solutions of drugs (these are usually essential oils), which have a boiling point below one hundred degrees. However, compared to previous types, the steam inhaler has a number of disadvantages, including the limited use of drugs in very small concentrations, which does not always give the necessary healing effect.

Solution for inhalation

To effectively use any inhalation for children, you need not just water for inhalation, it is important to prepare special solutions. They are created on the basis of various medications, the list of which is compiled by a doctor for intensive care. These could be bronchial medications, antibiotics, expectorants or solutions with soda. Find out what inhalations are done in a nebulizer next.

Bronchodilators

These medications are designed to treat the bronchi. The maximum effect of bronchodilators is achieved by delivering small particles to the bronchi using inhalation procedures. These include the following inhibitors:

  • "Ventolin Nebula"
    1. Composition: salbutamol as the main component, which creates a medicinal effect.
    2. Indications: prescribed by doctors for bronchial asthma, as well as for chronic lung disease.
    3. Application: the suspension is used in pure form, 2.5 ml each, or diluted with Sodium Chloride. The procedure should last no more than 10 minutes, and the permissible frequency daily is up to 4 times.
  • "Berotek"
    1. Ingredients: fenoterol, which effectively relieves asthma attacks.
    2. Indications. This medicine is necessary for use as a prevention or treatment of asthma and chronic lung disease.
    3. Application: inhalations for young children (up to 6 years old), take Beroteka drops and drop directly into the inhaler.

Mucolytics

This type of medication is an expectorant that thins mucus. With the help of inhalations with mucolytics, doctors effectively combat severe coughs of any origin. These drugs effectively relieve swelling of the mucous membranes and thin even highly viscous sputum. Here's what you can do inhalations with:

"Ambrobene" or its analogues: "Ambroxol", "Ambrohexal":

  1. Ingredients: main ingredient – ​​ambroxol;
  2. Indications: intended for the treatment of acute or chronic diseases of the respiratory system.
  3. Application: it is not recommended to use with medications called: “Falimint”, “Pectusin”, “Bronholitin”, “Sinekod”, others. To make inhalation for children, dilute 2 ml of syrup with saline solution one to one. Perform the procedure twice a day.

Antibiotics

Without an antibacterial drug, it is impossible to cure a long-standing respiratory disease (more than 10 days). Such medications help prevent infection from penetrating into the deep sections of the bronchi and have broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties. Among antibiotics, the following drug is often used during inhalation.

  1. Ingredients: acetylcysteine ​​(the same “ACC”), thiamphenicol.
  2. Indications: enhances the effect of mucolytics.
  3. Application: use 2 ml of the prepared solution (125 mg of medication with 125 ml of saline solution).

Alkaline

Alkali-based solutions intensively help thin sputum and purulent discharge from the nasopharynx. This inhalation method is considered a simple and effective means. It treats diseases of the respiratory system. To carry out inhalation with mineral water, use “Borjomi” or “Essentuki” as follows:

  • Heat half a liter of mineral water in a kettle to (45 degrees);
  • inhale steam through the spout with your mouth and exhale through your nose;
  • the duration of the process is 8 minutes, and the number of repetitions per day is up to 4 times;

What to do with inhalations

Depending on what disease you want to treat, taking into account the presence of certain symptoms, there are different medications that are used for preparing inhalations. For a nebulizer, you can prepare solutions, inhaling the vapors of which will effectively treat diseases such as snot, wet or dry cough, sinusitis, asthma, sore throat, flu, ARVI, and other diseases. Learn further what to do with nebulizer inhalations.

With a runny nose

To effectively treat a runny nose and relieve nasal congestion, use specialized solutions for inhalation called “Sinupret”, “Naphthyzin”, “Epinephrine” (“Adrenaline”). Also effective: “Zvezdochka”, “Pinosol”, “Rotokan”. Find out how to prepare inhalations for a runny nose:

  1. Eucalyptus or fir oil: dilute 14 drops of ether in 0.2 liters of saline solution. For each procedure, fill the nebulizer for a runny nose with 3 ml of the resulting solution, repeating the procedure per day up to 4 times a day.
  2. “Sodium Chloride”: pour an ampoule with 4 ml of the drug into a nebulizer, treat the tube with “Chlorhexidine”, breathe for up to five minutes. It must be done at least three times a day.

For bronchitis and dry cough

When bronchitis or a long dry cough takes you by surprise, inhalations with expectorants (Mukaltin, Lazolvan) and mukalytics will help you. They also use antitussives (“Ledocaine”, “Tussamag”) and herbal medicines. The following medications are used for inhalation for cough:

  • Berodual for inhalation
    1. Ingredients: fenoterol, bromide.
    2. Indications: used for the treatment of chronic obstructive respiratory diseases.
    3. Application: prepare Berodual for children with saline solution (2 drops each), fill the nebulizer when coughing - breathe.
  • Lazolvan for inhalation instructions
    1. Composition: main component – ​​ambroxol.
    2. indications: for acute and chronic diseases with viscous, thick sputum;
    3. application: dilute 2 ml of the medicine with 2 ml of saline solution, do the procedure by adding 3 ml of the prepared solution, repeating the procedure up to 4 times a day.
  • "Pulmicort"
    1. Composition: main substance – budesonide.
    2. Indications: chronic lung diseases, acute inflammatory diseases.
    3. Application: dilute 1 mg of medication with 2 ml of saline solution, use 3 ml of the mixture for the procedure, four repetitions per day.

For sinusitis

To ease the course of the disease and speed up the recovery process, children with sinusitis cannot do without inhalations. Here, vasoconstrictor drugs are needed to relieve inflammation in the nose and make breathing easier. In this case, inhalations with:

  • "Dekasan." It is an antiseptic and disinfectant with antiviral activity. Has reviews of a strong drug.
    1. Ingredients: decamethoxin.
    2. Indications: used during purulent-inflammatory diseases (tonsillitis, sore throat, sinusitis, inflammation of the adenoids).
    3. Application: dilute 2 ml of the medicine with 2 ml of saline solution, use 3 ml of the resulting mixture for the procedure three times a day.
  • Saline solution. Dilute 3 g of sea salt in 10 ml of saline solution, use the finished mixture in 3 ml doses for 10-minute procedures several times a day.
  • Essential oils: mix a drop of rosemary, thyme and mint, dissolve in 2 ml of saline solution, perform the procedure for about 20 minutes three times a day.

At a temperature

You should always remember that during fever, it is better to avoid inhalation procedures altogether. However, there are situations where the use of a nebulizer is possible. For example, a child has an acute illness and in order to maintain the effect of therapy, inhalations cannot be stopped. However, if the temperature rises above 37.5, then any procedures prescribed even by doctors must be canceled.

For asthma

To treat asthma using inhalation, use medications that dilate the bronchi (Berotec, Salbutamol, Flixotide Nebula, Eufillin), thin mucus (Lazolvan for inhalation, Mukolvan), antibiotics (Septomirin ", "Dioxidin", "Gentamicin", "Metrogil", "Miramistin"). Hormonal medications (Hydrocortisone, Prednisolone), antihistamines (Dexamethasone, Cromohexal), and drugs to enhance immunity (Derinat, Interferon, Laferobion, Cycloferon) will also help. Prepare solutions using these medications.

Find out more about how to choose an asthma inhaler.

Nebulizer Recipes

There are recipes for inhalations that have a wide spectrum of action during respiratory diseases. Drugs such as Tonzilgon, Propolis, and Calendula can be used here. Use them to ease the course of the disease, improve your general condition, and speed up your recovery. To learn how to prepare such solutions for inhalation, read the instructions below.

  • With "Chlorophyllipt", necessary components and application:
    1. 1 ml of alcohol (one percent) tincture of chlorophyll from eucalyptus leaves;
    2. saline solution for inhalation (10 ml);
    3. mix everything, use a dose of 3 ml of the prepared solution for each 20-minute procedure;
    4. apply at least three times a day.
  • With “Tonsilgon” (a homeopathic remedy for inhalation based on horsetail, chamomile, dandelion, yarrow, marshmallow, walnut):
    1. 2 ml of the medicine should be added to the same amount of saline;
    2. The nebulizer needs to be refilled with 4 ml of the prepared mixture;
    3. inhalation duration is up to 10 minutes, repeated up to four times a day.
  • With Propolis:
    1. Dilute 1 ml of medicine in 20 ml of saline solution;
    2. use 3 ml per inhalation three times a day.
  • With "Furacilin":
    1. Dilute one tablet of the drug in 100 ml of saline solution;
    2. Use 4 ml of diluted medicine with inhalations up to two times a day.
  • With Calendula:
    1. Dilute 1 ml of alcoholic infusion of inflorescence extract in 40 ml of saline solution;
    2. Pour 4 ml of the mixture into the nebulizer and inhale a couple of times every day until complete recovery.

Inhalations at home

If you don’t know what to do with inhalation for a cough or runny nose, the procedure can be performed using methods without using a nebulizer. To do this, use improvised means that are available at home, for example, garlic or potatoes. You can also do inhalations using herbal solutions. Just take the necessary ingredients, boil and breathe over a steaming pan with ready-made traditional medicines.

  1. Recipe with garlic: boil finely chopped 6 cloves of garlic for about five minutes, breathe over the steam.
  2. Proportions for herbal inhalation: take a teaspoon of dried eucalyptus, sage, finely chopped garlic, a validol tablet, a quarter of a briquette with pine extract, boil, inhale the vapors.
  3. Boil two potatoes in their skins, breathe over the pan until it cools down.

Video about inhalation for children

Before performing inhalations at home using folk remedies or using nebulizers, consult a therapist so that he carefully examines the child, makes the correct diagnosis, and only then, according to his instructions, use breathing exercises. Next, watch the videos that describe the correct procedure for children.

Doctor Komarovsky

Known in many countries, Dr. Komarovsky will always tell you how to act correctly in any situation when your baby is sick. By watching the video attached below with the recommendations of this pediatrician, you will learn what is allowed and prohibited to do during various respiratory diseases and how to properly use inhalations for therapy.

How to use a nebulizer

Having purchased an indispensable device for use at home, it is important to know to study the instructions inside called “Nebulizer use”, however, not everyone uses it, so watch the video below. Here you will learn why certain tubes are needed and how to use them to treat various diseases. Remember that not all medications are suitable for certain types of inhalers.

The information presented in the article is for informational purposes only. The materials in the article do not encourage self-treatment. Only a qualified doctor can make a diagnosis and make recommendations for treatment based on the individual characteristics of a particular patient.

Source: http://sovets.net/3841-ingalyatsii-dlya-detei.html

Nebulizer therapy

Patient's Guide. You can learn about what a nebulizer is, what diseases can be treated with its help, how to carry out inhalation correctly, how to choose a nebulizer, and much more about the modern method of inhalation therapy from this article.

NEBULISER THERAPY IS MODERN AND SAFE.

In the treatment of respiratory diseases, the most effective and modern method is inhalation therapy. Inhalation of medications through a nebulizer is one of the most reliable and simplest treatment methods. The use of nebulizers in the treatment of respiratory diseases is gaining increasing recognition among doctors and patients.

To make the medicine easier to penetrate into the respiratory tract, it should be converted into an aerosol. A nebulizer is a chamber in which a medicinal solution is sprayed into an aerosol and delivered into the patient’s respiratory tract. The healing aerosol is created due to certain forces. Such forces can be air flow (compressor nebulizers) or ultrasonic vibrations of the membrane (ultrasonic nebulizers).

The modern approach to the treatment of respiratory diseases involves delivering drugs directly to the respiratory tract through the widespread use of inhaled forms of drugs. The capabilities of the nebulizer have dramatically expanded the scope of inhalation therapy. Now it has become available to patients of all ages (from infancy to old age). It can be performed during periods of exacerbation of chronic diseases (primarily bronchial asthma), in situations where the patient has a significantly reduced inhalation rate (young children, postoperative patients, patients with severe somatic diseases) both at home and in a hospital setting.

Nebulizer therapy has advantages over other types of inhalation therapy:

  • It can be used at any age, since the patient is not required to adjust his breathing to the operation of the device and at the same time perform any actions, for example, pressing the canister, holding the inhaler, etc., which is especially important in young children.
  • The absence of the need to take a strong breath allows the use of nebulizer therapy in cases of severe attacks of bronchial asthma, as well as in elderly patients.
  • Nebulizer therapy allows the use of drugs in effective doses without side effects.
  • This therapy provides a continuous and rapid supply of medication using a compressor.
  • It is the safest method of inhalation therapy, since it does not use, unlike metered-dose aerosol inhalers, propellants (solvents or carrier gases).
  • This is a modern and comfortable method of treating bronchopulmonary diseases in children and adults.

What diseases can be treated with a nebulizer?

The drug sprayed by an inhaler begins to act almost immediately, which makes it possible to use nebulizers, first of all, for the treatment of diseases that require immediate intervention - asthma, allergies.

(primarily, nebulizers are used to treat diseases that require immediate intervention - asthma, allergies).

Another group of diseases for which inhalations are simply necessary are chronic inflammatory processes of the respiratory tract, such as chronic rhinitis, chronic bronchitis, bronchial asthma, chronic broncho-obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, etc.

But their scope of application is not limited to this. They are good for the treatment of acute respiratory diseases, laryngitis, rhinitis, pharyngitis, fungal infections of the upper respiratory tract, and the immune system.

Inhalers help with occupational diseases of singers, teachers, miners, and chemists.

In what cases is a nebulizer needed at home:
  • In a family where there is a child who is susceptible to frequent colds, bronchitis (including those occurring with broncho-obstructive syndrome), for the complex treatment of cough with difficult to separate sputum, treatment of stenosis.
  • Families with patients with chronic or often recurrent bronchopulmonary diseases (bronchial asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic bronchitis, cystic fibrosis).

What medications can be used in a nebulizer.

For nebulizer therapy, there are special solutions of drugs that are produced in bottles or plastic containers - nebulas. The volume of the medicine together with the solvent for one inhalation is 2-5 ml. Calculation of the required amount of medication depends on the age of the patient. First, 2 ml of saline solution is poured into the nebulizer, then the required number of drops of medicine is added. Distilled water should not be used as a solvent, as it can provoke bronchospasm, which will lead to coughing and difficulty breathing during the procedure. Pharmacy packaging with medications is stored in the refrigerator (unless otherwise indicated) closed. After the pharmaceutical package has been opened, the drug must be used within two weeks. It is advisable to write down the date on which you started using the drug on the bottle. Before use, the medicine must be warmed to room temperature.

For nebulizer therapy the following can be used:

  1. mucolytics and mucoregulators (drugs for thinning sputum and improving expectoration): Ambrohexal, Lazolvan, Ambrobene, Fluimucil;
  2. bronchodilators (drugs that dilate the bronchi): Berodual, Ventolin, Berotek, Salamol.
  3. glucocorticoids (hormonal drugs with multilateral effects, primarily anti-inflammatory and anti-edematous): Pulmicort (suspension for nebulizers);
  4. cromones (antiallergic drugs, mast cell membrane stabilizers): Cromohexal Nebula;
  5. antibiotics: Fluimucil antibiotic;
  6. alkaline and saline solutions: 0.9% saline solution, Borjomi mineral water

Your attending physician should prescribe the drug and tell you about the rules for its use. He must also monitor the effectiveness of treatment.

Not recommended for use with nebulizers:

all solutions containing oils, suspensions and solutions containing suspended particles, including decoctions and infusions of herbs, as well as solutions of aminophylline, papaverine, platiphylline, diphenhydramine and the like, as not having points of application on the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract.

What side effects are possible with nebulizer therapy?

When breathing deeply, symptoms of hyperventilation (dizziness, nausea, cough) may appear. It is necessary to stop inhalation, breathe through your nose and calm down. After the symptoms of hyperventilation disappear, inhalation through a nebulizer can be continued.

During inhalation, as a reaction to the administration of the sprayed solution, coughing may occur. In this case, it is also recommended to stop inhalation for a few minutes.

Inhalation technique using a nebulizer

  • Before handling your inhaler, you should (always) carefully
  • wash your hands with soap, because... there may be pathogenic microbes on the skin.
  • Assemble all parts of the nebulizer according to the instructions
  • Pour the required amount of medicinal substance into the nebulizer cup, preheating it to room temperature.
  • Close the nebulizer and attach the face mask, mouthpiece or nasal cannula.
  • Connect the nebulizer and compressor using a hose.
  • Turn on the compressor and inhale for 7-10 minutes or until the solution is completely consumed.
  • Turn off the compressor, disconnect the nebulizer and disassemble it.
  • Wash all parts of the nebulizer with hot water or 15% baking soda solution. Brushes and squeegees should not be used.
  • Sterilize the disassembled nebulizer in a steam sterilization device, such as a thermal disinfector (steam sterilizer) designed for treating baby bottles. Sterilization by boiling for at least 10 minutes is also possible. Disinfection must be carried out once a week.
  • The thoroughly cleaned and dried nebulizer should be stored in a clean napkin or towel.

Basic rules for inhalation

  • Inhalations are carried out no earlier than 1-1.5 hours after eating or significant physical activity.
  • During the course of inhalation treatment, doctors prohibit smoking. In exceptional cases, before and after inhalation, it is recommended to stop smoking for an hour.
  • Inhalations should be taken in a calm state, without being distracted by reading or talking.
  • Clothing should not restrict the neck or make breathing difficult.
  • For diseases of the nasal tract, inhalation and exhalation must be done through the nose (nasal inhalation), breathing calmly, without tension.
  • For diseases of the larynx, trachea, bronchi, and lungs, it is recommended to inhale the aerosol through the mouth (oral inhalation), breathing deeply and evenly. After taking a deep breath through your mouth, you should hold your breath for 2 seconds, and then exhale completely through your nose; in this case, the aerosol from the oral cavity enters further into the pharynx, larynx and further into the deeper parts of the respiratory tract.
  • Frequent deep breathing can cause dizziness, so periodically it is necessary to interrupt inhalation for a short time.
  • Before the procedure, you do not need to take expectorants or rinse your mouth with antiseptic solutions (potassium permanganate, hydrogen peroxide, boric acid).
  • After any inhalation, and especially after inhalation of a hormonal drug, it is necessary to rinse your mouth with boiled water at room temperature (a small child can be given drink and food); if using a mask, rinse your eyes and face with water.
  • The duration of one inhalation should not exceed 7-10 minutes. Course of treatment with aerosol inhalations - from 6-8 to 15 procedures

What types of nebulizers are there?

Currently, three main types of inhalers are used in medical practice: steam, ultrasonic and compressor.

The action of steam inhalers is based on the effect of evaporation of the medicinal substance. It is clear that only volatile solutions (essential oils) can be used in them. The biggest disadvantage of steam inhalers is the low concentration of the inhaled substance, usually less than the threshold for therapeutic effects, as well as the inability to accurately dose the drug at home.

Ultrasonic and compressor are combined by the term “nebulizers” (from the Latin word “nebula” - fog, cloud); they generate not vapor, but an aerosol cloud consisting of microparticles of the inhaled solution. A nebulizer allows you to administer pure medications to all respiratory organs (nose, bronchi, lungs), without any impurities. The dispersion of aerosols produced by most nebulizers ranges from 0.5 to 10 microns. Particles with a diameter of 8-10 microns settle in the oral cavity and trachea, with a diameter from 5 to 8 microns - in the trachea and upper respiratory tract, from 3 to 5 microns - in the lower respiratory tract, from 1 to 3 microns - in bronchioles, from 0. 5 to 2 microns – in the alveoli. Particles smaller than 5 microns are called the “respirable fraction” and have the maximum therapeutic effect.

Ultrasonic nebulizers spray the solution with high-frequency (ultrasonic) vibrations of the membrane. They are compact, silent, and do not require replacement of nebulization chambers. The percentage of aerosol that reaches the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract exceeds 90%, and the average size of aerosol particles is 4-5 microns. Thanks to this, the required drug in the form of an aerosol in high concentration reaches the small bronchi and bronchioles.

The choice of ultrasonic nebulizers is more preferable in cases where the area of ​​action of the drug is small bronchi, and the drug is in the form of a saline solution. However, a number of drugs, such as antibiotics, hormonal drugs, mucolytics (thinning sputum), can be destroyed under the influence of ultrasound. These drugs are not recommended for use in ultrasonic nebulizers.

Compressor nebulizers form an aerosol cloud by forcing a powerful air stream pumped by a compressor through a narrow opening in a chamber containing a medicinal solution. The principle of using compressed air in compressor nebulizers is the “gold standard” of inhalation therapy. The main advantage of compressor nebulizers is their versatility and relative cheapness, they are more accessible and can spray almost any solution intended for inhalation.

Compressor nebulizers have several types of chambers:

  • Русский
  • convection chambers with constant aerosol output;
  • breath-activated cameras;
  • breath-activated chambers with flow interrupter valve.

When inhaling medicinal substances through a nebulizer, it is necessary to take into account some features:

  • Русский
  • the optimal filling volume of the nebulizer chamber is at least 5 ml;
  • to reduce the loss of the drug at the end of inhalation, you can add 1 ml of saline solution to the chamber, after which, shaking the nebulizer chamber, continue inhalation;
  • When using inexpensive and accessible drugs, all types of nebulizers can be used, but when using more expensive drugs, the greatest effectiveness of inhalation therapy is provided by nebulizers activated by the patient's inspiration and equipped with a flow interrupter valve during the exhalation phase. These devices are especially effective in the treatment of bronchopulmonary diseases.

How to choose a nebulizer?

When treated with a nebulizer, the medicine is delivered to the respiratory tract. This particular treatment is intended for those who have a disease affecting the respiratory tract (rhinitis, laryngitis, tracheitis, bronchitis, bronchial asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, etc.). In addition, sometimes the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract is used to introduce drugs into the human body. The surface of the bronchial tree is very large, and many drugs, such as insulin, are actively absorbed through it.

The choice of inhaler depends on the disease you are going to treat and your financial capabilities.

In Russia, nebulizer manufacturers from Germany, Japan, and Italy represent their products on the medical equipment market. Unfortunately, there are no domestic manufacturers of compressor nebulizers yet. Detailed information about the technical characteristics of certain types of nebulizers can be obtained from Russian companies that sell them. When choosing a nebulizer, the requirements for the nebulizer and compressor are taken into account. For a compressor, the important factors are size, weight, operating noise, and ease of use. In all these parameters they differ slightly. But it should be noted that nebulizers from PARI GmbH (Germany) are distinguished by traditionally high German quality, exceptional efficiency and long service life. They ensure maximum deposition of medications in the respiratory tract due to optimal aerosol dispersion.

Perhaps the main attention should be paid to the type of sprayer. Nebulizers equipped with a direct-flow nebulizer make sense to use in young children, since they do not have enough inspiratory force to activate the valves (and thus save medicine). For inhalation, children under 3 years of age should use a children's mask. Adults can also use this type of sprayer, because... It is initially equipped with a mouthpiece.

Breath-activated nebulizers have inhalation and exhalation valves that are activated alternately throughout the act of breathing. When using them, less aerosol is formed on exhalation, resulting in significant savings in medication.

There are also nebulizers that have a nebulizer equipped with a tee tube (aerosol flow interrupter), which allows you to regulate the formation of aerosol only during inhalation by blocking the side opening of the tee.

Various types of attachments are used with the nebulizer: mouthpieces, nasal cannulas (tubes), masks in adult and child sizes.

  • Mouthpieces (adults and children) are optimal for delivering medications deep into the lungs; they are used for inhalation by adult patients, as well as children over 5 years old.
  • Masks are convenient for treating the upper respiratory tract and allow you to irrigate all parts of the nasal cavity, pharynx, as well as the larynx and trachea. When using a mask, most of the aerosols settle in the upper respiratory tract. Masks are needed when using nebulizer therapy in children under 3 years of age, since it is impossible to carry out inhalations in such patients through a mouthpiece - children breathe mainly through the nose (this is due to the anatomy of the child’s body). It is necessary to use a mask of the appropriate size. Using a tight-fitting mask reduces aerosol loss in young children. If the child is over 5 years old, it is better to use a mouthpiece rather than a mask.
  • Nasal cannulas (tubes) are needed to deliver a medicinal aerosol into the nasal cavity. They can be used in the complex treatment of acute and chronic rhinitis and rhinosinusitis

Buying a nebulizer for yourself and your loved ones is the right and reasonable decision. You have acquired a reliable assistant and friend

Source: http://www.allergodom.ru/articles/art34/

Features of using a nebulizer in children: advice for parents

The effectiveness of inhalation therapy for respiratory pathologies has been proven by centuries of experience in the treatment of folk remedies. Science does not deny the effectiveness of inhalations.

The advantages of inhalation therapy for pathology of the respiratory system are undeniable, especially in relation to the treatment of children:

  • use of minimal dosages of medications;
  • immediate effect after treatment;
  • predominantly local action of the drug, minimizing systemic (general) action;
  • the child’s recovery occurs faster.

But for many, the word “inhalation” is associated with a saucepan with boiled potatoes or a kettle with herbal infusion and a huge towel, covered with which you need to breathe. Of course, this method of treatment is of little use for children due to the danger of burning the delicate mucous membrane.

Modern inhalers

Modern medicine has equipment for inhalation therapy that allows treatment of both adults and children safely, comfortably and painlessly. Such devices are nebulizers.

A nebulizer is a portable inhaler that converts liquid medicine using ultrasound or compressed air into an aerosol, tiny droplets (their size ranges from 0.5 to 10 microns). The device can be used in the treatment of acute and chronic diseases of the upper and lower airways.

Unlike single-drug inhalers used to relieve an asthma attack, nebulizers can be filled and used multiple times with different medications.

The area of ​​influence of nebulizer inhalation depends on the size of the resulting microparticles of the drug: the smaller their size, the deeper the inhaled drug substance penetrates. Thus, particles with a diameter of 8–10 microns have an effect in the oropharynx; from 5 to 8 microns - in the nasopharynx and larynx, drops with a diameter of 3-5 microns enter the trachea and bronchi, from 1 to 3 microns enter the small bronchi (bronchioles), particles of 0.5-2 microns penetrate into the alveoli.

Purposes of using inhalations:

  • relieving bronchospasm;
  • increasing drainage function in the respiratory system;
  • sanitation of the respiratory tract at all levels;
  • relieving swelling of the mucous membrane of the respiratory system;
  • delivery of the drug to the desired part of the respiratory system;
  • relief of the inflammatory process;
  • stimulation of local immunity;
  • improvement of mucosal microcirculation.

Contraindications for inhalations:

  • severe respiratory failure;
  • nose and lung bleeding;
  • fever over 37.5 0 C;
  • cardiac arrhythmias;
  • drug intolerance.

How to choose the right nebulizer for children

Manufacturers offer 3 types of nebulizers: compressor, ultrasonic and membrane. Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages. We talked in detail about the types of nebulizers and their scope of application in this article. It is important to understand that the most expensive inhaler from a well-known brand does not mean that it is the best for children. It will be the device that will satisfy all the requirements and purposes of use.

Compact ultrasonic nebulizers

They are easy to use and safe for children. The device can operate both from the mains and from the battery. The mask allows the baby to inhale in both vertical and horizontal positions. Parents are attracted by the silent operation of the device, which does not scare away small children.

But there are restrictions on the use of drugs using an ultrasonic inhaler. Antibiotics, mucolytics, and hormones should not be used (they are destroyed under the influence of ultrasonic waves). In some models of the device it is also prohibited to use herbal decoctions and essential oils.

The disadvantage of the device is also the need to use additional accessories needed to process the medicine container. Considering the listed disadvantages, the ultrasonic nebulizer, despite the excellent fine atomization of drugs, cannot be considered a universal inhaler.

Compressor nebulizer

It has a slightly larger size and weight and is noisier, which can be considered disadvantages of this type of inhaler. The medicine is sprayed under the influence of a powerful air flow. No additional accessories are required, but after 2 years of operation the sprayer and connecting tubes may need to be replaced.

The advantages of the device are:

  • reliability and ease of operation;
  • the possibility of using various medications, including hormones and antibiotics, the structure of which is not destroyed;
  • lower price of the device;
  • convenience for home use;
  • can be used to treat children from infancy.

The compressor inhaler is most suitable for children. The degree of dispersion of the drug at the outlet can be adjusted automatically (inhalation intensity) or using a special valve. Automatic adjustment allows you to clearly dose and control the consumption of expensive medications.

The device can be used in the treatment of inflammatory diseases of various organs of the respiratory system, to relieve attacks of bronchial asthma or allergic cough.

Membrane or mesh-electronic nebulizer (mesh inhaler)

The medicine is sprayed into it using a vibrating membrane with a huge number of microscopic holes.

The advantages of the inhaler are:

  • compactness and low weight (about 100 g);
  • silent operation;
  • economical use of medicine;
  • high degree of aerosol dispersion (almost 70% of particles have a size of up to 5 microns);
  • the ability to use medications of all types;
  • low power consumption;
  • Possibility of battery operation (2 AA batteries provide 4 hours of continuous inhalation).

The disadvantages of the device include the high cost of the device and strict adherence to the operating mode and rules for treating the membrane after use. If these rules are violated, the device becomes unusable. If we do not take into account these disadvantages, then this version of the inhaler can be called ideal.

When choosing an inhaler, you should be guided by the purpose of its use. An ultrasonic inhaler can be purchased if inhalations are intended only with mineral water, saline solution or herbal decoctions. But you should remember that you cannot use antibiotics, hormones and mucolytics in this inhaler.

If a child suffers from bronchial asthma or cystic fibrosis, or experiences attacks of allergic cough, then ultrasonic inhalers are automatically eliminated. And when choosing another type of device, preference should be given to mobile models (with the ability to operate on battery power).

The choice between compressor and membrane devices depends on the financial condition of the family. If it is possible to buy an expensive device and provide careful care for it, a mesh inhaler will be optimal. In all other cases, buy a compressor nebulizer.

When choosing a specific model, you need to pay attention to the presence of a child’s mask with special valves that allow the child to breathe freely, without any strain. For very young children, toy models are produced in bright colors, some of which can make sounds. This allows you to distract the child from the noise of the working nebulizer.

You should pay attention to the expiration date of the inhaler (the longer it is, the higher the reliability of the device). When purchasing, it is important to inquire about the method of cleaning and disinfecting the device, and the need to replace parts of the device.

An important indicator of the device’s operation is the method of delivering the medication aerosol:

  • continuous supply, which leads to unnecessary consumption of medicine and the inability to control the dosage of the medicine received by the child;
  • with manual adjustment of the supply of medicine only during inspiration - an unacceptable method for children;
  • automatic regulation of aerosol supply only during inhalation using special valves makes it possible to target and economically use drugs.

Automatic models are most suitable for treating children, but they are more expensive.

How to use a nebulizer

We talked in detail about using an inhaler in this article. First, you need to carefully study the instructions for the purchased inhaler model. The medicine prescribed by the pediatrician in the appropriate dosage is poured into a special glass.

To dilute the medicine, you can only use saline solution! It cannot be diluted with distilled or boiled water (!), because the water will quickly be absorbed by the mucous membrane and swelling will develop, which will aggravate the child’s condition.

One procedure requires 3–6 ml of liquid medication. Under no circumstances should you try to add a crushed tablet to the solution - only special medications in liquid form are used.

The chamber (or cup) is closed. A tube or mask is attached to the outlet. The device turns on; inhalation is carried out from 5 to 20 minutes until the aerosol ceases to form.

If the procedure is carried out with an open valve, then the size of the drug particles is from 2 to 10 microns; when closed, the dispersion will be 0.5–2 microns. In this mode, the medicine quickly reaches the most distant parts of the bronchial tree.

The child should breathe normally and freely during the session. Forced inhalations can cause irritation of the mucous membranes and provoke a coughing attack.

After the procedure, the nebulizer is disconnected from the compressor. After each session, all parts of the device that came into contact with the medicine should be thoroughly washed with hot water using a disinfectant and detergent. Then you need to rinse well and dry with a soft cloth or hairdryer.

Medicines for inhalation with a nebulizer

Pharmacies sell ready-made medications for use in a nebulizer (nebulas). You can use saline solution (0.9% sodium chloride solution), alkaline mineral waters Narzan, Borjomi, Essentuki - previously degassed and heated to room temperature.

The following may only be used as prescribed by a pediatrician:

  • antiseptics furatsilin, dioxidin;
  • antibiotics Tobramycin, Gentamicin;
  • anesthetic lidocaine;
  • bronchodilators Berotek, Atroven, Salbutamol, Astalin, Salgim, Ventolin, Fenoterol, Salamol.
  • hormones Budesonide, Pulmicort, Cromohexal;
  • immunomodulator – dry leukocyte interferon;
  • mucolytics Ambroxol, Acetylcysteine, Lazolvan, Fluimucil, Ambrohexal, hypertonic solution;
  • herbal medicine Rotokan.

This list of drugs is sufficient for the treatment of respiratory diseases of an inflammatory and allergic nature in combination with other therapeutic purposes. But you cannot select them for treating children on your own!

There is also a list of drugs whose use in nebulizers is undesirable. This is due to the fact that not all of the inhaled drug remains in the respiratory tract. The mucous membrane in them is abundantly supplied with capillaries, which allows finely dispersed medicine to penetrate into the bloodstream.

For this reason, one should not strive for the smallest possible size of drug droplets in an aerosol: such microparticles will not linger on the bronchial mucosa, but, having reached the alveoli, will quickly penetrate into the blood, the local effect of the drug (the purpose of inhalation) will be minimal.

You should be very careful when using herbal infusions:

  • firstly, at home it is difficult to filter them efficiently so as not to introduce debris into the alveoli and cause damage to the inhaler;
  • secondly, herbs are among the strongest allergens and when used, instead of a therapeutic effect, you can get a very strong allergic reaction.

Despite the instructions in the instructions about the possibility of using essential oils in inhalations, you need to remember that these oils give a good effect in the treatment of the oropharynx and nasopharynx. Injected into the alveoli of the lungs, they cause the development of severe lipoid pneumonia.

Should not be used in any type of nebulizer:

This is due to the fact that these drugs do not have a local effect at all or the effect is insignificant.

Summary for parents

Inhalations are a fairly effective method of treatment for respiratory pathologies in children. Modern nebulizer inhalers make the procedure easier and more accessible at home.

A properly selected nebulizer will serve for many years, accelerating the child’s recovery. But the inhaler should be used wisely; prescriptions for treating a child with inhalations should be obtained from a pediatrician. Experimenting with medication selection on your own is dangerous.

The drugs and products that are best used for inhalation for children using a nebulizer are listed in the “Doctor Komarovsky School” program:

Source: http://otolaryngologist.ru/1967