Nebulizers – and everything you need to know about them

What is a Nebulizer?

You’ve seen them in films, you’ve seen them in hospitals and they probably make you nervous, but nebulizers can come in handy for everyone from kids to senior citizens alike. Nebulizers are devices that allow you to inhale medication in the form of an aerosol mist through a mask or a mouthpiece.

Who can benefit from nebulizers?

Nebulizers can be used to treat respiratory ailments like Asthma, Cystic Fibrosis, Bronchiectasis, and COPD or other lung conditions. A person doesn’t have to ‘do’ anything when receiving medication through a nebulizer, hence they can be useful when giving medications to children and elderly people. They are easy to use and very effective as well.

How do they work?

Now, if you’re the curious kind, you must be interested in understanding how exactly nebulizer functions. A nebulizer consists of a machine which sends pressured air to the medicine cup which can hold the liquid medicine to convert it into an aerosol mist.

Difference between Rotahalers and Nebulizers

Even though Rotahalers and Nebulizers are two different devices, their purpose is the same – deliver the medicine into your lungs to provide quick relief. A lot of people with respiratory diseases may also prefer using rotahalers because of their portability, but nebulizers provide a more regulated flow. Studies also show that only 5 percent of patients know how to use rotahalers correctly, as they can be a bit tricky to use, whereas nebulizers are more user-friendly.

Types of Nebulizers

Depending on the time required for nebulization and the cost, nebulizers are usually divided into two types –

1) Compressor Nebulizer:
This type of nebulizer is more commonly used as it is quite inexpensive. This device has a chamber to hold the nebulization drug. It has a compressor that pushes air into this chamber to create particles which are then deposited into the user’s airway. The compressor can either be piston or membrane.
A membrane nebulizer is the oldest form of nebulizers and takes a longer time for medication. A piston nebulizer consists of powerful motors and hence is comparatively faster.

2) Ultrasonic Nebulizer:
This type of nebulizer is considered to be faster as it takes a lesser amount of time for nebulization and develops a finer mist. It utilizes ultrasonic sound waves to break down liquid particles into a mist that can be inhaled easily. They are usually more expensive.