Nebulizer | An Online Guides for Different kinds of Nebulizer

Maintaining the cleanliness of your nebulizer after using it is very important so that it will not cause any infection.
After using the nebulizer, be sure to wash totally the nebulizer cup with lukewarm water, then airdry the cup, you may also use in cleaning the cup, mask, or mouthpiece with the use of tepid soapy water using a mild detergent, then wash them carefully with clean water. The compressor tubing does not need any cleaning at all. Disinfecting the equipments is also important. In the absence of disinfectant solution, you may use as alternative – the vinegar/water solution (1/2 cup white vinegar and 1/2 cups of water). Immerse for 20 minutes the equipments and wash thoroughly with continuous flow of water. Allow the equipments to dry by palcing it on a dry towel.

The compressor must be covered with sterile fabric. Regularly wipe the compressor with clean, soggy cloth. Medications should be placed in a cool, dry place. Monitor them and inspect if crystals or discoloring have formed, if that happens, do not use such medication, instead throw them away.

Nebulizers usually accept their medicine in the form of a concentrated liquid, sometimes viscous. These medicines are frequently steroids, and the reason they are inhaled instead of ingested is to limit their effect to the lungs and respiratory system only. Otherwise, that amount of steroid saturated throughout the body would be toxic. This liquid is loaded into the machine for use.

Bronchodilators such as Albuterol are often used.

Usually, the vaporized medicine is inhaled through a tube-like mouthpiece, similar to that of an inhaler. This has the added benefit of increasing portability, as well as allowing surrounding air to mix with the medicine, decreasing the unpleasantness of the vapor. The inhaling apparatus, however, is sometimes replaced with a standard rubber face mask, similar to that use for inhaled anesthesia, for ease of use with young children or the elderly.

After use with steroids, the person who used the nebulizer must rinse his or her mouth due to the fact that those steroids can cause yeast infection of the mouth (thrush). This is not true for bronchodilators; however, patients may still wish to rinse their mouths due to the unpleasant taste of many bronchdilating drugs.