Try: A nebulizer is a device used to administer medication to people in forms of a liquid mist to the airways it is commonly used in treating cystic fibrosis asthma and other respiratory diseases the nebulizer pumps air or oxygen through a liquid medicine to turn it into a vapor which is then inhaled by the patient as a general rule doctors generally prefer to prescribe inhalers for their patients not only because these are cheaper and more portable but are often less potent and carry less risk of side effects nebulizers for that reason are usually reserved only for serious cases of respiratory disease or severe attacks newer compact ultrasonic nebulizers are also available these nebulizers use vibrating micro-mesh to produce the vapor nebulizers of this variety are rather expensive and the micro-mesh is very delicate and sensitive to dust and debris use and attachments 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 salbutamol albuterol usan are often used and sometimes additionally ipratropium 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 used for inhaled anaesthesia 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 because 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 information references "respiratory care help" 2008 by sherman oaks medical supplies available at www shermanoaksmedical com
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Categories: Sage, Topic, Medical Physical
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Keywords: Oxygen therapy aerosol therapy oxygen nebulizers bronchodilators salbutamol albuterol usan
*This information is listed as a Fact Sheet and is not explicitly medically licensed