Nebulizer FAQs: Answers to Your Questions

A nebuliser is a medical device that turns liquid medication into a mist or an aerosol so that it can be inhaled directly into the lungs through a face mask or a mouthpiece.

Nebulisers and inhalers are different types of devices. They are both used to deliver medicines to the airways and the lungs. Nebulisers are usually powered by electricity or batteries. An inhaler is not powered by electricity and is usually handheld.

Nebulisation should be done only on a doctor’s prescription or recommendation. It is suitable for a certain group of patients who cannot use the handheld inhalers effectively – for example, patients who are very sick, those who are old and have comorbidities that limit their physical and cognitive skills, or infants who cannot use handheld inhalers with or without spacers, or in emergency conditions.

A nebuliser should be used at home only when prescribed by a doctor and after clearly understanding the instructions on how to use it. The medicine dosage and the frequency of use should be in accordance with your doctor’s prescription. Moreover, proper cleaning and maintenance of the device should be done regularly as per the instructions in the device manual

No, nebulisation does not cause any addiction whatsoever – the medicines are the same as those that are administered through handheld inhalers.

A nebuliser delivers the medication directly to the lungs and the airways. Hence, the medicine dose required is much less than that present in the tablets or syrups used for oral therapy.

Yes, it is safe to perform nebulisation in infants and small children with breathing difficulty, but it should be done only if prescribed by the physician and only after following the instructions on the use of a nebuliser correctly. As a parent or caregiver, you should first clearly understand the steps to perform nebulisation before you use it to treat your child or patient.

Nebulisation should be done only if it is prescribed by the doctor. The instructions pertaining to usage, dosage, cleaning and maintenance need to be followed correctly. The medication dosage, nebulisation frequency and duration should be strictly adhered to as per the doctor’s prescription.

A nebuliser must be used as per your doctor's recommendation. The medication dosage, frequency and duration of the nebulisation should be strictly adhered to as per the doctor’s prescription.

Nebulisation should be performed using the medicine dosage as recommended by the doctor. If it is strictly followed, there is no chance of overdosing.

When certain medications such as steroids or anticholinergics are to be administered, there are chances of some side effects if the mist comes in contact with the skin or eyes. In such cases, the side effects can be prevented by using a mouthpiece and cleaning the nose and gargling to clean the mouth area after nebulisation with warm water to prevent side effects.

Irrespective of any type of nebulised medication used, rinsing of the throat and mouth with water should be done. On the other hand, unlike oral medicines where a high amount of medicine is administered, the systemic side effects are much lower in nebulisation since a smaller amount of medicine is administered.

The fill volume should not be less than 2 mL, especially when you are using a jet nebuliser. For mesh nebulizers, the fill volume should not be less than 0.5 mL. For a nebuliser to work efficiently, the correct fill volume should be used. Water should not be used to dilute it, as it can lead to a dangerous condition called bronchospasm and cough.

No, it is not advisable to share the mouthpiece or face mask. Sharing can increase the risk of the spread of infections from one person to another. If disposable nebulisers are used, they should be used once and then disposed of.

A mouthpiece is better than a face mask. With the mouthpiece, the mist directly enters the respiratory system. It has been documented that nebulisation using a mouthpiece is more effective than a face mask. However, a facemask can be used, as per the doctor’s recommendations, in patients who are not cooperative and in an acute condition.

A proper and tight-fitting mask can improve the delivery of the nebuliser medication and reduce the chances of wastage of medicine. The tight-fitting mask also prevents the medicine from coming in contact with the eyes. A patient using a face mask should be encouraged to inhale through the mouth.

It is essential to clean the nebuliser and its accessories after every use and disinfect them daily. If any liquid is left in the nebuliser and its parts, germs such as yeast, bacteria and fungus can colonise and multiply. This poses a risk of infection to the patient undergoing nebulisation. Cleaning the accessories after nebulisation and daily disinfection of the nebuliser kills these germs and ensures future germ-free treatment to the patient.

The user should sit comfortably in an upright position or at a 45-degree angle so as to minimise breathing difficulty and also to allow maximum lung expansion in order to ensure that the maximum amount of medication reaches the airways and the lungs.