Nebulizers in Acute Asthma

Nebulizer is a device used to administer medication in the form of a mist inhaled into the lungs. Nebulizers use oxygen, compressed air or ultrasonic power to break up medical solutions and suspensions into small aerosol droplets that can be directly inhaled from the mouthpiece of the nebulizer device.

The traditional view of the nebulizer is that they are expensive and bulky as well as inconvenient to handle, wash and maintain. However, at the present time inhaler manufacturers of MDI inhalers are struggling to cope with imposed change of formulations due to environmental damage caused toy CFC propellants. DPI inhalers are dependent on the Asthma and COPD patient’s ability to inhale forcefully to disperse the medicine. This is not the case with the available nebulizer. It delivers asthma medication so quickly; this nebulizer device allows any asthmatic to have a powerful breathing treatment at home or anywhere outside of the hospital or doctor’s office.

It is important to remember this was not a new type of inhaled medication. The purpose is to prevent a severe asthma attack. It is designed to alleviate the acute symptoms of an asthma attack for those who cannot use a standard inhaler, liquid, or pill. Many times, it is used in an emergency situation for quick results. Depending on the dosage of the medication, this device ensures that the full dosage is given. But it is well worth the value. For an asthmatic, nebulizer can ease symptoms and bring breathing under control. 

Infants are usually treated with inhaled medicines given by nebulizer at first. Parents generally learn how to use the nebulizers easily and young infants’ quickly accept them. In order to get the most benefit from the inhaled medicine for Asthma, young children should wear a face mask while receiving the asthma treatment.

If you plan to use a nebulizer for medical treatment, then your doctor, nurse, or
Respiratory therapist should properly instruct you on its use. With the right instructions, you should have minimal inhaled side effects and can control your Asthma symptoms better.

Source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov