Nebulizers convert liquid medication into a fine mist, which patients can inhale through their mouths. The medication can then directly reach the respiratory tract and lungs with each breath, targeting the affected area to treat the disease.
Nebulization is suitable for a variety of respiratory conditions, including colds, coughs, sore throats, asthma, and bronchitis. Because the medication acts directly on the respiratory tract, there is little systemic absorption and relatively few side effects, making it a common treatment for respiratory diseases in both children and adults.
There are currently three main types of nebulizers: compressor, ultrasonic, and mesh.
What Is A Nebulizer?
Nebulized inhalation uses a high-speed airflow to transform liquid medication into tiny droplets, which are then inhaled through the respiratory tract for treatment.
Its main effects include: improving local blood circulation through gentle humidification and warmth, which helps reduce inflammation and edema; thinning sputum and relieving airway spasms, thereby promoting expectoration.
And keeping the respiratory tract moist, reducing irritation, and relieving cough symptoms.
Compared to systemic drug delivery methods such as oral or injectable administration, nebulized inhalation offers advantages such as higher local drug concentrations, faster onset of action, and a smaller total drug dose.
Because the drug acts directly on the respiratory tract, a very small proportion enters the bloodstream, resulting in fewer systemic adverse reactions and a higher overall safety profile.
This treatment is particularly suitable for children, the elderly, and patients who have difficulty taking oral or injectable medications.
Diseases treated with nebulizers
Nebulizers can treat:
Asthma
Bronchiitis
Bronchiectasis
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Cystic fibrosis
Pneumonia
Upper respiratory tract infection
Types of Nebulizers
Nebulizers can be categorized into compressor type, ultrasonic type, and mesh type.
Ultrasonic nebulizers: Ultrasonic nebulizers use ultrasound to break up liquid medication into a mist. 90% of the droplets are less than 5μm in diameter, and the atomized particles generally exceed 10μm.
However, the mist particles produced are usually relatively large and easily blocked by the upper respiratory tract, such as the mouth, nose, and throat, making it difficult to reach the bronchi deep in the lungs. Therefore, their therapeutic effect on lower respiratory tract diseases is limited.
Meanwhile, due to its rapid nebulization speed and high water content in the mist, it may lead to excessive humidification of the respiratory tract.
If the patient’s sputum is thick, it may temporarily expand after humidification, increasing breathing resistance and potentially causing chest tightness or shortness of breath in some individuals.
Furthermore, some medications may condense and remain inside the nebulizer, failing to be fully nebulized and inhaled, resulting in relatively low drug utilization and potential waste.
Mesh nebulizers: Mesh nebulizers use micro-vibrations to expel medication through a fine mesh, creating a fine mist. Compared to traditional ultrasonic nebulizers, they produce even finer mist particles that are more easily absorbed into the deeper respiratory tract with each breath.
These nebulizers are small, lightweight, and portable, and operate very quietly. Combining the advantages of fine mist particles with quiet operation, they are particularly suitable for users who require frequent use and prioritize portability and quiet operation, such as children with asthma.
Compressor nebulizer: A compressor nebulizer uses compressed gas (such as air or oxygen) as a power source to transform liquid medication into fine mist particles.
The produced mist particles are small and uniform, mostly smaller than 5 micrometers, easily penetrating deep into the bronchi, lungs, and other lower respiratory tracts with inhalation. This allows for effective drug deposition at the site of lesions, resulting in high utilization and minimal waste.
Therefore, this type of nebulizer is suitable for the vast majority of respiratory diseases and is a commonly used nebulized inhalation device in clinical practice.
How to Use A Nebulizer?
Set Up the Nebulizer
1. Wash your hands with soap and running water, and dry them with a clean towel.
2. Connect the power supply correctly. If it is a compressor nebulizer, place it on a stable surface; if it is an ultrasonic nebulizer, add an appropriate amount of water to the tank.
3. Insert one end of the tubing into the nebulizer outlet and gently rotate to ensure a secure connection. Connect the other end to the nebulizer cup as instructed.
4. Install the nebulizer cup assembly correctly according to the instructions.
5. Pour the prescribed medication into the nebulizer cup. The usual dosage is 2–5 ml. The medication temperature should be close to room temperature. Do not mix medications yourself.
6. Attach the mouthpiece or mask to the nebulizer cup. It is now ready for use.
Use Nebulizer
1. The patient can sit or semi-recumbent, maintaining an unobstructed airway.
2. If using a mouthpiece, place it between the teeth and close the lips tightly; if using a face mask, ensure it fits snugly against the face, completely covering the mouth and nose.
3. Turn on the nebulizer and maintain natural, steady breathing. After every few breaths, slowly inhale deeply, hold your breath for 2-3 seconds, and then gently exhale to help the medication settle in the respiratory tract.
4. Continue treatment until the medication in the cup is depleted.
5. Turn off the nebulizer and remove the accessories.
6. Clean the medication cup and other contact points promptly according to the instructions to maintain hygiene.
Cleaning the Nebulizer After Use
After using a home nebulizer, please follow these steps for cleaning and maintenance:
1. Personal Hygiene: Wash your face immediately after treatment to remove any remaining medication mist. Rinse your mouth with water and drink a small amount to relieve throat discomfort and remove any residual medication from your mouth.
2. Disposal of Remaining Medication: If the medication is still needed on the same day, seal it and store it at 8–25℃. Otherwise, discard it and do not save it for the next day.
3. Cleaning Accessories:
• Add a small amount of water to the medication cup and atomize for approximately 30 seconds to clean the spray nozzle.
• Rinse all removable parts, except the air duct, with running water and dry them thoroughly or allow them to air dry.
• Store in a clean box to avoid contamination.
4. Regular Disinfection: Soak the sprayer accessories in medical disinfectant weekly, then rinse thoroughly with clean water and air dry.
5. Accessory Replacement: Nebulizer accessories are consumables and should be replaced regularly:
• Disposable kits are for single use only.
• Non-disposable accessories should be replaced according to the instructions (generally every 2-3 months).
6. Equipment Inspection: Periodically atomize water onto the mirror surface and observe the mist pattern. Uneven mist particle size or water droplet formation indicates decreased spray performance; replacement of the sprayer is recommended.
Note: Water must not enter the air duct; only wipe the outer surface during cleaning.
Precautions for Using Nebulizers
To ensure the safety and effectiveness of nebulizer therapy, please pay attention to the following before and after use:
Before Treatment
1. It is recommended to eat at least half an hour before nebulization to avoid irritating the throat and trachea with the nebulizer mist and causing vomiting. Rinse your mouth before nebulization to remove any food residue.
2. If the patient has phlegm in their respiratory tract, try to cough it up first to keep the airway clear.
3. Do not apply face cream, moisturizing oil, etc., before treatment to avoid skin absorption of the nebulizer mist, which may affect drug inhalation.
4. Connect the nebulizer tubing correctly according to the instructions. For first-time use or nebulizers that have not been used for a long time, run the nebulizer idle for 3-5 minutes to expel any residual odor from the tubing.
5. Please strictly follow your doctor’s instructions regarding medication use. Do not increase or decrease the dosage or mix other medications without consulting your doctor.
During Treatment
1. Patients should be seated or semi-recumbent to maintain chest expansion, facilitating deeper medication penetration.
2. The volume of medication per nebulization session is generally 3–4 ml. If insufficient, it can be supplemented with normal saline to reach this volume.
3. Each nebulization session is recommended to last 10–15 minutes.
4. When using the mask, ensure it fits snugly against the mouth and nose to prevent air leakage. The mask may shift when a child cries; adjust it promptly.
5. Especially in cold weather, initially place the mask about 2–3 cm away from the mouth and nose, allowing the patient to adjust to the mist temperature before applying it to the face.
This prevents cold air stimulation that could trigger coughing or airway spasms.
6. Closely monitor the patient’s condition during nebulization. If symptoms such as paleness/cyanosis, rapid breathing, unusual restlessness, choking, or worsening wheezing occur, treatment should be stopped immediately.
Note: After treatment, please wash your face and rinse your mouth promptly, and clean the nebulizer accessories according to the relevant instructions.
