Nebulizer Home Treatment

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KEY POINTS

• A nebulizer is a machine that your child uses at home. Medicine is mixed with liquid and the machine forms a mist. Your child will breathe in the mist to help get the medicine in to his lungs.
• Do not use the nebulizer more or less than you are supposed to unless you check with your child’s healthcare provider. If your child’s symptoms do not improve, contact your provider.

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What is a nebulizer?

A nebulizer is a machine that your child uses at home. Medicine is mixed with liquid and the machine forms a mist. Your child will breathe in the mist to help get the medicine in to his lungs.

A nebulizer uses these parts:

• An air compressor, which is a small machine that takes room air and adds enough pressure to change liquid medicine to a mist
• Medicine, which comes pre-mixed, or in bottles that you measure and mix with a special kind of salt water called sterile normal saline
• A nebulizer cup, which is a container with a cap where you put the medicine
• A mouthpiece that attaches to the cup. You breathe through the mouthpiece to get the medicine into your lungs. People who have trouble holding a mouthpiece may wear a mask instead.
• Tubing, which connects the air compressor to the cup holding the medicine to produce the mist

How is the home nebulizer used?

1. Place the compressor on a hard surface. Make sure the filter is free of dust and dirt. If it is dirty, rinse it with water and then dry it. Plug in the compressor. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before beginning a treatment.
2. You may need to prepare the medicine before you add it to the machine. Some medicines come premixed with a special salt water called sterile saline. Other medicines need to have saline added. Your medicine may come with small tubes of saline, or you may need to buy the saline at your pharmacy. Follow the directions that come with your medicine. If you have questions, talk to your healthcare provider.
3. Put the prescribed amount of medicine(s) into the medicine cup with a dropper, a syringe or use the pre-mixed dose.
4. Attach the mouthpiece or mask to the medicine cup. If a child is too young to use a mouthpiece, use a mask. Position the mask comfortably and securely on your child's face over the nose and mouth.
5. Attach the tubing to the medicine cup. Turn the power on. You should see a light mist coming from the back of the tube opposite the mouthpiece. Place the mouthpiece in your child’s mouth or place the face mask over your child’s nose and mouth.
6. Your child should sit up so that he can take deep breaths. Hold the nebulizer cup in an upright position to help it work best. Gently tap the side of the nebulizer cup from time to time during the treatment to make sure that your child gets all the medicine. Have your child breathe through his mouth until all the medicine is gone. The treatment is over when all the medicine is gone, no mist comes out, and the nebulizer makes a constant sputtering noise. An average treatment takes 5 to 10 minutes.

Some children cough up mucus after breathing treatments. Note the mucus color and thickness. Normal mucus is usually thin and white or clear. Thick, sticky mucus that is yellow or green may be normal for your child’s condition or it may be a sign of infection. Call your child’s healthcare provider to report a change in the color or thickness of mucus.

If the treatments do not improve your child’s symptoms, call your provider.

How and when should the nebulizer be cleaned?

Follow the directions for your equipment. Make sure you clean it after every treatment. Disinfect according to the directions that come with the nebulizer.

What special instructions should be followed?

Do not use the nebulizer more or less than you are supposed to unless you check with your healthcare provider.