Are Nebulizers Safe for Kids
By: Brian HarmonTotal Views: 412, Word Count: 648,
Nebulizers are generally used for giving asthma medications to kids which include giving albuterol to your child when he/she is wheezing and also an anti inflammatory medication to prevent asthma attacks. Are nebulizers safe for kids, is a question that needs to be answered in order to clear any confusion you might have about this device.
Using a metered dose inhaler with a mask and spacer could be just as effective as a nebulized treatment for several kids not using the nebulizer. Still, younger children, particularly below the age of 5 who have trouble using the inhaler and kids with severe asthma could benefit from having a nebulizer at home to use.
Nebulizers and inhalers could both be used to give asthma medicine to kids. Inhalers which are used with spacers are as efficient as nebulizers; still, young kids would find it hard to use an inhaler. Nebulizers are safe for children and are used by those who find inhalers difficult to use. Nebulizers are often prescribed than inhalers by children’s health care provider after considering all possible factors.
Easy to Use Nebulizers
Nebulizers come in different models and sizes and are either electric or battery operated. Using pressurized air or oxygen, these nebulizers turn the liquid asthma medicine into a mist. The easiest option for children inhaling this mist is by using a face mask. They have to breathe just by using this face mask. In spite of being noisy and bulky, these nebulizers are a lifesaver for many kids and their parents. You just need to keep the mask clean, so that your child cannot breathe anything else other than the asthma medicine.
Nebulizers are a vital part of the treatment for several respiratory problems which require prescription drugs in the form of suspended solutions. Bronchodilators, antibiotics and corticosteroids are the drugs prescribed. The only way to administer the medicine to the patient (child) is by using a nebulizer.
Tips to Use Nebulizer Correctly
- You must always use clean equipment for your child
- As per the instructions of the manufacturer, assemble the nebulizer, air source and tubing.
- Place the medications in the nebulizer by properly measuring them (also remember that cc and ml are same). Always measure your kid’s albuterol dose with 2cc of Bronchosaline or with an ampule of Intal, if it’s also been prescribed by the doctor.
- Hold the nebulizer close to your child’s mouth and nose (or you could use a strap and mask it in place) by turning on the nebulizer. By closing their lips, older children could use a mouthpiece which is held in their mouth as long as they breathe only through their mouth.
- You must tell your kid to take slow, long and deep breaths during the treatment (hold the breath, if possible, for a few seconds).
- You must continue this treatment till all the medicine is gone from the measuring cup. The treatment last for about 10 minutes.
- Finally, clean the equipment by turning off the nebulizer after the completion of the treatment.
If the question, are nebulizers safe for kids still don’t go out of your mind, then you can always consult a professional who could guide you successfully.
About the Author
Brian Harmon is a General Health Practitioner. He has an MD degree and has worked in different Medical Clinics of Texas for 25 long years.
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