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All About Nebulizers
A nebulizer is a
compressed air machine that turns liquid asthma medicine into a
fine mist you can easily breathe.
Nebulizers are good for young children, people who have
trouble using metered dose inhalers, and people who have
severe
asthma. Nebulizers come in many forms.
Your nebulizer may not look like the one pictured here, but
they all work in about the same way.
How
to Use a Nebulizer
Read
the instructions that came with your nebulizer since there are
many types of nebulizers available.
General
Instructions:
- Measure the correct amount of
normal saline solution using a clean eyedropper. Put it into
the plastic attachment cup. If your medicine is premixed, do
not add normal saline. Add it to the cup, then go to step 3.
- Measure the correct amount of
medicine using a clean eyedropper. Put it into the cup with
the saline solution.
- Fasten the mouthpiece to the
T-shaped part of the nebulizer. Then fasten this unit to the
cup, or fasten the mask to the cup. For a child over the age
of two, use a mouthpiece unit because it will give more
medicine than a mask.
- Put the mouthpiece in your mouth
and seal your lips tightly around it, or place the mask on
your face.
- Make sure the air tubing has
been connected to the machine and the nebulizer. Turn on the
machine.
- Take slow, deep breaths in
through your mouth.
- Hold each breath 1-2 seconds
before breathing out.
- Continue until there is no more
medicine in the cup (about 10 minutes).
- Store the medicine as directed
after each use.
- Clean the nebulizer after each
use.
Cleaning
a Nebulizer
Regularly
cleaning the nebulizer is important because a dirty nebulizer may
cause an infection. A good cleaning routine also keeps the
nebulizer from clogging up and helps it last longer.
After
each use:
-
Remove the mask or mouthpiece and T-shaped part from the
cup. Rinse the mask or mouthpiece and T-shaped part in warm
running water for 30 seconds.
-
Rinse the eyedropper in warm running water for 30 seconds.
-
If possible, use distilled or sterile water for rinsing.
-
The tubing should not be washed or rinsed.
-
After rinsing, shake off excess water. Air-dry pieces on a
clean cloth or paper towel.
-
Put the mask or mouthpiece and T-shaped part, cup, and
tubing back together and connect the device to the machine. Run
the machine for 10-20 seconds to dry the inside of the nebulizer.
-
Disconnect the tubing from the machine. Store the parts in
a zip-lock bag.
Once
every day when used:
-
Follow steps 1 through 5 above using mild dishwashing soap
to clean the parts.
-
Be sure to dry all parts completely.
Once
every week when used:
-
After washing with mild dishwashing soap, soak the parts in
a solution made of one part distilled white vinegar and two parts
distilled water for 30 minutes.
-
Throw out the vinegar water solution after use. Do not
reuse it.
Never
put the compressed air machine in water. Clean the surface of the
machine with a damp cloth as needed.
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Adapted
from Nebulizers Information Sheet, provided as an
educational service by Astra Zeneca
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