Nebulizer for children - correct use at home. Inhalation to an infant: purpose, procedure, contraindications Is it possible to inhale children under one year old

The disease of the upper respiratory tract leads to serious consequences if timely and, most importantly, effective treatment is not dealt with. It is not always possible to visit the clinic due to the busyness of parents, but the presence of an inhaler in the house will come to the rescue and help resolve this problematic situation. With the help of a conventional kettle or inhaler, drugs quickly enter the respiratory tract, and recovery is much faster.

Age category of children predisposed to inhalation

Inhalations for children are effective in the treatment of colds and are considered the fastest result in recovery. With the help of an inhaler and special solutions, this procedure can be carried out at home, the purchase of which is available at every pharmacy. The rapid discharge of mucus and sputum from the respiratory tract will lead to a quick recovery.

You can teach a child to inhalation at any time, it is not necessary to wait until he gets sick. So, for each baby, it is easier to endure this procedure already during treatment than to face this innovation during the illness itself. To achieve the desired effect, it is important to do inhalations correctly, for this, prepare decoctions and mixtures for the procedure in a timely manner.

Young mothers are interested in the question of at what age can inhalation be given to a child so as not to harm his health? It turns out that inhalation procedures can be carried out for children from infancy, only their duration should take no more than 2-3 minutes and only as directed by a doctor. Usually these procedures are carried out and even easier to tolerate during sleep, for this it is best to purchase a silent drug.

Already older children can carry out such procedures for 5 minutes or more without an appointment, but only if they were attributed earlier, and everything went without any consequences. To make an independent decision on the treatment of a child at home, parents, at a minimum, should understand whether the child's cough is dry or wet.

You can also use decoctions of various herbs for inhalation, preparing mixtures at home, but it is better not to do this on your own, only as directed by doctors. Self-medication can lead to serious consequences and further aggravate the course and treatment of the disease.

Rules for conducting inhalation procedures

Carrying out inhalation at home, you need to follow some rules, namely:

• do not use the inhaler at high temperature;
• it is recommended not to use the inhaler for children suffering from frequent nosebleeds;
• medicines for inhalation should be used only as directed by a doctor, since different types of cough are recommended for different medications;
• maintain a distance between meals and inhalation procedures of approximately one and a half hours;
• disinfect removable parts of the inhaler before each use;
• observe the inhalation at the prescribed time, depending on the age of the child.

When carrying out inhalations, parents should be extremely careful not to burn the child and not to fall under the steam evaporation themselves. If you use an inhaler, then there is no cause for concern; when using a regular kettle, you need to cover the child with a towel or diaper so that splashes of hot water do not get on the body. For inhalation, it is important to take into account the mood of the child, if he is crying, then first calm him down so that in the future this procedure does not become frightening and repulsive for him.

Infants are susceptible to the same diseases as adults. The danger lies in the fact that the child's body reacts to them much more strongly and needs gentle and as safe treatment as possible.

Inhalation is considered one of the effective methods for eliminating the symptoms of colds and SARS. Today, science has stepped far forward, so you should not force a child to sit under a blanket with boiling water. Inhalations to an infant can be carried out with the help of certain rules and recommendations.

rendering to application

Nebulizer is a safe device for inhalation!

At home, the treatment of various pathologies of the respiratory system can be carried out using a device such as a nebulizer. This device converts the drug into an aerosol, which is fed into the child's respiratory tract. Such a device can be used at any age, including infants.

With the help of a nebulizer, inhalations are carried out as a preventive measure against attacks of bronchial asthma. In addition, with the help of such an apparatus, it is possible to facilitate the process of breathing, and accelerate the discharge of sputum during various respiratory pathologies.

Inhalations using a nebulizer, compared with their other types, are considered the safest and most comfortable.

During the operation of the device, a continuous supply of the drug is performed, so there is no need to take deep breaths and exhalations.Another significant advantage of the nebulizer is the fact that it does not use propellants. This means that there are no substances in the device, under the influence of which the necessary pressure for spraying is maintained.

In fact, the nebulizer can be used not only in the fight against pathologies, but also for preventive purposes to maintain the immune system and treat fungal mucosal lesions.

All diseases that can be treated in infants with an inhaler can be divided into several groups:

1. Pathologies that are accompanied by seizures and require emergency assistance. In the event that an exacerbation of asthmatic disease occurs or, then it is inhalations that allow the introduction of drugs into the child's body.
2. Inflammatory diseases of the respiratory system, which occur in a chronic form. Often inhalations are an effective method of treating pathologies such as and, as well as various types.
3. Acute respiratory diseases, such as rhinitis, and.

Thanks to the inhaler, the smallest particles penetrate deep into the body, which helps them to quickly absorb into the mucous membrane. Today, in addition to the nebulizer, you can use other types of inhalers: steam, compressor and ultrasonic.

Features of the procedure

You can carry out inhalations at home with the help of saline and mineral water. In addition, various herbal decoctions, a solution of sea salt with honey and medicines give a good effect in the treatment of an infant. Saline serves as the basis for the preparation of an inhalation liquid, that is, they can dilute other substances.

A good effect in the fight against respiratory pathologies in infants is given by inhalations with mineral water and soda. With their help, it is possible to free the nasopharynx from the accumulation of mucus and accelerate its removal to the outside. Honey has a softening effect on the mucous membranes of the nose, larynx and lungs, and also moisturizes them. For the treatment of complex pathologies such as pneumonia and bronchitis, experts recommend inhalation with a drug such as.

After inhalation with the use of special medicines, it is necessary to consult a specialist, since the baby may develop a reaction to their components.

At home, you can carry out inhalations with various decoctions, which are prepared on the basis of the following herbs:

• chamomile
• lavender
• oregano

Such herbal decoctions are considered a source of healing properties and are completely harmless to the baby. For the prevention of colds or with a slight runny nose, inhalations can be done only with. In addition, you can add a little sea buckthorn oil or juice to it.

Inhalations with eucalyptus have an anti-inflammatory effect, and to prepare a solution, 10 drops of tincture are diluted in 200 ml of saline. It is possible to achieve the destruction of pathogenic bacteria, and to eliminate the inflammation of the organs of the ENT system with the help of a solution of chamomile. To prepare it, 10 grams of dry branches of the plant are poured with a glass of boiling water and kept for 30 minutes for a couple. After that, the prepared broth is diluted with 500 ml of boiling water, brought to room temperature and used for inhalation.

Contraindications to the procedure

Despite the fact that inhalations are considered an effective method of dealing with catarrhal respiratory pathologies, in some cases they will have to be abandoned.

Experts identify several conditions under which such a procedure can harm an infant:

1. One of the contraindications to inhalation is high body temperature. In the event that the body temperature of the baby is above 37 degrees, then the treatment will have to be postponed for a while.
2. In addition, often in young children, disorders of the cardiovascular system occur or are diagnosed. In such a situation, parents will also have to refuse to carry out inhalations.
3. A contraindication to inhalation in infants is acute pneumonia, pulmonary edema, the presence of a purulent process, tonsillitis, and.
4. Steam inhalation is not recommended for babies under one year old, and you should consult a specialist before starting such treatment.

More information about inhalation with a nebulizer can be found in the video:

In order for inhalations to bring a positive effect, the following rules must be observed:

• it is necessary to carry out the procedure an hour after eating
• the temperature of the prepared mixture for infants should not exceed 30 degrees
• the duration of inhalation should not exceed 3 minutes
• after the procedure, you should limit the intake of food, physical activity of the baby and conversations with him
• it is important to constantly monitor body temperature

When carrying out inhalation with a nebulizer, make sure that the mask fits snugly against the child's face. This need is due to the fact that only with this position of the mask, the baby will take a full breath, and not a superficial one. Experts recommend inhaling infants while they sleep.

Perhaps, without exception, all children (formerly Soviet, now Russian) know firsthand what inhalation is. Remember? One had only to get his feet wet or catch a runny nose, a caring mother or grandmother immediately put a saucepan with steaming potatoes on the table and ordered to inhale the steam deeply. Now you are probably doing the same with your children ... But are you sure that this "pot therapy" is the best way to inhale for children?

Inhalations for children and adults: treatment in one go

For the treatment of a disease that develops in the respiratory tract, such a technique as inhalation is often used. Especially often, inhalations are used in the treatment of children "attacked" by one of the forms of acute respiratory infections or affecting the upper respiratory tract (for example:, etc.), as well as for more serious diseases - such as, and others.

First of all, inhalations for children and adults are carried out in order to “deliver” one or another drug to various parts of the respiratory tract - preferably in the area where the disease develops. Since there is no way to place the medicine in solid or liquid form in the respiratory organs, it is “turned” into a dispersed system, or, more simply, into an aerosol. Particles of the drug mixed with gas (and sometimes even simple water vapor) easily penetrate the respiratory tract, moisturizing them and providing the necessary therapeutic effect.

In life, we are surrounded by many natural dispersed systems, for example, fog, predawn haze and, alas, along with them, urban smog.

How deeply the medicine (or simply wet vapor) penetrates the respiratory tract when inhaled depends little on how deep your child is able to inhale. The depth of penetration depends on several physical parameters, the main of which is the size of the aerosol particles. Different devices for inhalation create a different aerosol. This is what makes them different from each other.

In the annotations for all inhalers without exception, the size of the aerosol particles that this device is capable of is usually denoted by the concept of “dispersion”.

The most coarse-dispersed "aerosol", as you might guess, is the steam emanating from a traditional saucepan with steaming potatoes. “Breathing over the steam” is already a traditional way of treatment in most Russian families. However, this type of inhalation is not capable of more - particles of steam simply cannot penetrate further than the nasopharynx.

Size matters!

So, an aerosol for inhalation can be created in various ways and with various devices, of which a whole “arsenal” has already been created in the 21st century.

As already mentioned, the beloved folk practice of inhaling with a pot of steaming potatoes is not able to affect the bronchi or lungs and help them heal - alas, the vapor particles are too large to penetrate into the respiratory tract beyond the nasopharynx. Nevertheless, one should not underestimate the "pot" therapy either - it is quite capable of temporarily clearing the nasal cavity of accumulated mucus and making breathing easier in diseases such as acute respiratory infections (ARVI), ...

On the other hand, there are ultra-modern high-tech inhalation devices that can create the finest aerosol, which, even with shallow breathing, easily reaches the walls of the bronchi and lungs, delivering the necessary medicine there.

In order for the inhalation procedure for children to be most effective, it is necessary to choose the right method of inhalation, strictly based on which part of the respiratory tract needs help.

In other words, if a child has a stuffy nose or a dry cough, a simple steam inhalation is enough. And if we are talking about the treatment of the bronchi or lungs - you can’t do without a fine inhaler.

However, not all methods of inhalation are suitable for children of any age - there are strict restrictions and contraindications. We will talk about them a little lower, first having understood the variety of devices for inhalation.

Inhalation devices for children

Indeed, the most effective and efficient inhalations for children are carried out, fortunately or unfortunately, not "manually", but with the help of special devices and devices. Parents pay little attention to their existence, limiting themselves to using the traditional pot with potatoes. But in vain! Since in many situations it is the use of special inhalers that can radically change (in a positive sense) the scenario of respiratory diseases.

So, devices for inhalation therapy are divided into:

• aerosol drugs (medicine cans from which it is sprayed into the nasal or oral cavity);
• pocket powder or liquid inhalers (for example, a powder inhaler is a small cartridge to which a container of medicinal powder pills is attached to the company; the pill is “charged”, like a cartridge, into a cartridge through which a person takes a breath - thus small powder particles literally "shoot" into the respiratory tract);
• steam inhalers (a device in which liquid is turned into steam with the help of a special heater);
• compression inhalers (aerosol is created using a jet of air);
• ultrasonic inhalers (volatile particles are created under the influence of ultrasound);
• mesh nebulizers (these are the most modern, most high-tech devices capable of creating an aerosol with the smallest particles - that is, it is these devices that allow you to "deliver" the medicinal substance to the farthest corners of the respiratory tract).

Steam inhalers (they are also coarse-dispersed) are most often used for acute respiratory infections and most often without the addition of any medicines.

Fine inhalers (compressor, ultrasonic and others) are used to treat complex and serious diseases of the lower respiratory tract. Moreover, we are no longer talking about any “simple water vapor” here - this or that medicine is always involved in the procedure.

In almost all models of household inhalers, the dispersion (the size of the aerosol particles created) is unchanged. But in devices intended for clinics, hospitals, sanatoriums and other institutions, such an option is often provided as changing the caliber of aerosol particles for inhalation.

In addition to particle size, the depth of penetration of the aerosol during inhalation for children is also affected by:

• the speed of the mixture;
• mixture temperature.

Treatment with inhalation: vital rules

There are special rules that every parent who wants to treat their child with inhalation should know. The most important of them:

• 1 With the help of "pot therapy", as well as with the help of a steam inhaler (which belongs to the category of coarse devices), only the upper respiratory tract can be affected. This means that both the “saucepan” and the steam inhaler can alleviate the course of only simple and short-term acute respiratory infections (which include such diseases as: rhinitis, tonsillitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis, etc.).
• 2 In the treatment of more severe respiratory diseases - such as asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia - inhalations are used strictly according to the doctor's prescription. It is the specialist who, in these cases, must select the type of inhaler and the medicine that will be added to the aerosol, as well as the time, temperature and mode of the procedures.

Remember: the use of inhalations for children with lower respiratory tract disease is not the subject of parental self-treatment! Only a doctor can prescribe such procedures.

• 3 When using a "pot" inhalation or any steam inhaler, it is absolutely not necessary to add some medicinal substance to the steam (for example, the very popular "among the people" essential oil of eucalyptus, soda, etc.), because it is all deep in the respiratory tract it will not be able to penetrate anyway, but in order to moisten the mucous membrane and increase the rheological properties (that is, the ability to deform and flow) of sputum, just warm steam is enough.
• 4 Steam inhalations are never used to treat newborns, infants and children under one year old! And with great care, these procedures are prescribed for children under 6 years old - and they are prescribed by the attending physician, and not by the baby's relatives or compassionate neighbors on the porch.

The fact is that both a pot of potatoes and a steam inhaler act in much the same way as any expectorant medicine. Due to the increased hydration of the mucous membrane of the upper respiratory tract, they liquefy dried sputum clots and thereby increase its volume several times. After that, children over 6-7 years old and adults need only cough and blow their nose properly to immediately breathe easier and freer.

Toddlers, on the contrary, due to the underdevelopment of the respiratory muscles, it becomes even more difficult to breathe from an increase in sputum volume than before. However, if earlier the child was sitting with a "clogged" nose or coughing, then after steam inhalation, he will most likely begin to choke.

Primitive steam inhalation (from the category of "breathe over a pot of potatoes"), as well as the use of more serious steam inhalers in children under 6 years of age, can provoke obstruction (blockage) of the airways due to an increase in sputum volume. Moreover: the younger the child in age, the higher the risk!

Diseases in which children should not be inhaled

In fact, the list of diseases in which inhalation for children is not only not useful, but also extremely dangerous, is much more impressive than the list of "ailments" in which inhalation is really needed and helps. Moreover, some diseases from this "black" list, for some inexplicable reasons, in the minds of many parents are still listed as ailments, for the treatment of which inhalations are necessary.

For example, inhalations for children should never be carried out with:

• (this is a bacterial disease, and microbes, as you know, multiply extremely rapidly just the same in a humid and warm environment);
• (with otitis, mucus accumulates in the narrow space of the Eustachian tube - which changes the pressure and causes severe pain; when inhaled, the mucus swells, significantly increasing in size - this will create even more pressure and even more severe pain);

Besides, steam inhalation is contraindicated:

• Children under 1 year old;
• Children under 6 years of age without a doctor's prescription;
• At elevated body temperature;
• For any bacterial infections;
• For pain in the ear;
• If blood is found in the sputum when coughing;

Inhalations for children with or without

Inhalations are never (never!) carried out in order to prevent a particular disease - in advance and for the future. These procedures are intended solely for therapeutic purposes.

Therefore, it is best that mothers, fathers and other household members resort to children's inhalations only after consulting with an experienced physician. And only in the case when the child is really sick with the disease, in the treatment of which inhalations are used.

Parents - loving, responsible, prudent - should remember that inhalation therapy is never given to a child just like that. There must be strong indications for the use of both simple steam inhalers (and even the same “pot with potatoes”) and the use of more complex inhalation techniques. Which, of course, can be determined in full and with maximum accuracy not by a grandmother or a friend of the mother, but first of all by a doctor who diagnoses a particular respiratory disease in a child.

Is it possible to replace inhalations for children with other methods or medicines? In some cases it is indeed possible. For example, steam inhalations, as we have already mentioned more than once, are used to soften dried sputum in the upper respiratory tract - after the procedure, we (or our child over 6 years old) cough without effort, instantly getting relief from breathing and general condition.

But you can create conditions under which sputum will not dry out at all and turn into clots! The easiest way to do this is by changing the climate in the nursery: the air should be humid (55-70%) and relatively cool (no higher than 21°C). In addition, the child should be given plenty of water - as it is known that the density of blood and mucus are directly related.

And if inhalations (the very ones that help thin the sputum) are contraindicated for babies, then the special “healthy” climate in the house and heavy drinking (preventing thickening and drying of mucus) have never harmed anyone, even newborns.

Steam inhalation: only for children 6+

Let's repeat again: steam inhalation, which effectively “work” only in the upper respiratory tract, can be used independently only for the treatment of mild forms of acute respiratory infections in children over 6 years old (from one to 6 years old - only as directed by a doctor!). Most often they are used to moisten the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract and remove sputum clots.

Steam inhalation for children will give the most positive effect if:

• They are used in the early stages of acute respiratory infections (that is, when the amount of dried mucus in the airways is not too large);
• Simultaneously with the inhalation in the room where the child lives, an optimal climate is organized - quite humid and cool;
• The child is given plenty of fluids.

And vice versa: in a house where central heating “breaks all records”, and the rooms are rarely ventilated and never humidified, any steam inhalations are completely useless.

Non-steam inhalations(which are carried out using ultrasonic or compression inhalers, as well as using nebulizers) are used to treat various serious respiratory diseases (usually lower respiratory tract) strictly as directed by a doctor.

Which of us did not go through a terrible session of home inhalation in childhood? As soon as a runny nose or cough appears, the mother puts a pot or kettle on the stove, and the sick child with trepidation awaits not the most pleasant procedure. The effectiveness of this method of treatment in respiratory diseases is well known to everyone.

Recently, a large number of devices for inhalation have appeared in pharmacies. The consumer faced an acute question of choosing the right device from the many options on the market. How not to make a mistake when buying? How much do inhalers cost? What are the differences between models in different price ranges? How to choose an inhaler for children? The answers to these questions are provided below.

Modern inhalers and nebulizers greatly facilitate the treatment of various diseases.

What is an inhaler for and at what age can it be used by children?

Inhalers are used to treat and prevent viral and bacterial respiratory diseases. It is effective for:

• bronchitis;
• pneumonia;
• rhinitis;
• pharyngitis;
• asthma;
• tracheitis;
• tonsillitis;
• tuberculosis, etc.

In addition, inhalation helps to alleviate the symptoms of the disease, such as cough, sore throat, runny nose. The action of the devices is based on the transformation of a liquid drug into microparticles (aerosol), which through the nose and mouth, when breathing, enter the lesion. The advantage of using these devices in treatment is that the active substance is almost instantly delivered to the affected organ and begins to have a therapeutic effect.

Young parents are often interested in the question of at what age inhalers can be used in the treatment of babies. There are no strict age restrictions. Inhalation is done even for infants, but the following recommendations should be strictly followed:

• For children under 1 year of age, do not use devices in which the aerosol or vapor has a temperature above 45°C. The child may get burned.
• When choosing a device, think about the comfort of the child. The device should not make much noise. Its parts in contact with the skin of the child must be made of quality materials. Preference can be given to special children's devices, often made in the form of toys.

Description of different types of inhalers

Recently, the term "nebulizer" has become increasingly common to refer to various types of inhalers. Many believe that the words "inhaler" and "nebulizer" refer to the same devices, many distinguish them by the principle of operation. For all varieties of such devices, the term "inhaler" will be used hereinafter.

Ultrasonic

From the common name of devices of this type, it is clear that the aerosol form of the drug mixture is formed using ultrasonic waves. Such devices do not create noise during operation, have small dimensions and are therefore convenient for the treatment of children and adults. Many models have a rechargeable battery, which makes them much more mobile. One of the disadvantages of ultrasonic inhalers is that most drugs lose their properties when exposed to ultrasound.

Compact ultrasonic mesh nebulizer with masks and mouthpieces

The devices generate particles that are smaller than 5 microns, and they better penetrate into the lower layers of the bronchi and lungs. Therefore, this device is effective in the treatment of bronchitis and pneumonia.

Ultrasonic inhalers are popular with consumers, despite the restrictions on the use of drugs. Decisive when choosing these devices are their compactness, mobility, noiselessness. Affordability is also important. The cost of devices starts from 3000 rubles.

The Little Doctor Ld 250 model is very popular. The device is compact, silent, has a fairly capacious tank. Can be used by the whole family, because. it is stocked with masks for newborns, older children and adults. Also popular is the "Penguin" Med2000 Pingoo U2. The inhaler is equipped with a convenient dosing system for the inhaled drug mixture, which allows you to customize it individually for each method of therapy. The price in retail pharmacies ranges from 3450 to 4200 rubles.

Compressor

In compression inhalers, high-pressure air created by a reciprocating compressor passes through a reservoir of medicinal liquid and forms an aerosol.

Children's compressor inhaler

The main advantages of compressor inhalers:

• The ability to use any medication without restrictions.
• During the operation of the compressor device, microscopic particles are formed that can penetrate deep into the affected organs. This makes their use effective in the treatment of the lower respiratory tract.
• Most devices of this type are equipped with inhalation activation systems. That is, the aerosol begins to be produced only when inhaling, which makes it possible to prevent the loss of the therapeutic mixture when dissolved in air on exhalation.

Inspiratory activation systems are of 3 types:

• Manual. The mixture begins to flow when a button is pressed, which opens the valve.
• With automatic valve. The compressor works constantly, producing an aerosol, but the agent enters the body only when inhaled.
• Dosimetric. The device turns on only when you inhale.

The disadvantages of compressor inhalers are the high level of noise generated by the compressor and large dimensions. Children, especially the smallest ones, have difficulty getting used to procedures using such devices.

The most popular among children's compressor inhalers Omron C 24 Kids. It is made in the form of a kind teddy bear that children like. Can be used even by newborns. The price ranges from 3400 to 5100 rubles. It is worth paying attention to the device B.Well WN-115K. Its design in the form of a train is able to please the little ones, at the same time it is quite effective. Also known is the Gamma Panda model. Price - from 3350 to 4800 rudders.

Electronic mesh (mesh nebulizers)

Recently, electronic mesh inhalers, or mesh nebulizers, have become increasingly popular. Their action is also based on the use of ultrasonic waves, but not with the use of a medicinal liquid, but with the help of a special plate with microscopic holes. An aerosol is formed when a liquid passes through this mesh. In the device, the medicinal substance is not exposed to ultrasonic waves and is not destroyed. Thus, a wide range of drugs can be used in them.

Electronic mesh inhalers have absorbed all the advantages of compressor and ultrasonic devices. This is a quiet operation, compactness, the ability to use almost all drugs, but it has significant drawbacks: high price and difficulty in operation. The device uses a mesh with microscopic holes, which requires special care after each use. If you do not fully or partially follow the recommendations of the instructions, the device can quickly fail.

Mesh inhaler or electronic mesh nebulizer

Steam

Steam inhalers are the simplest in design and operation. Their action is based on mixing the medicinal substance with liquid vapors. An aerosol in various models can be formed either by boiling a liquid solution or by injecting a preparation from a separate chamber into steam.

The main advantage of steam devices is affordable price and reliability. Steam inhalers do not require special care, all parts can be easily removed and washed. The vapor particles generated by the inhaler are quite large and fail to deliver medicines to the lower respiratory system, so the upper areas can be treated and warmed up with the help of steam devices.

Despite the low price and ease of use, these devices are not very popular due to the following limitations:

• Not to be used in children under 1 year of age. The aerosol heats up to 45°C and may have an adverse effect on the infant's respiratory tract. Yes, and older children do not always enjoy breathing hot steam.
• In steam inhalers, you can use essential oils, infusions and decoctions of medicinal herbs. Most medications are destroyed when heated and lose their therapeutic properties.
• Do not use in diseases accompanied by elevated body temperature (more than 37.5 ° C).

Complete set of steam inhaler “Doggy”

Popular models of steam inhalers: "Cow" ("Burenka"), "Puppy" ("Dog"), "Chamomile". Price - from $ 10 (the simplest) to $ 60. The average cost is $30-40.

How to choose the right device for your child?

Parents very often wonder how to choose an inhaler for a child. The first thing you need to pay attention to is safety. Children under one year old should not be treated with steam inhalers. All parts of the device, especially those in contact with the body, must be made of safe materials that exclude the possibility of injury. The device should work quietly, not to irritate the child.

Design matters a lot. Devices made in bright colors, in the form of animals and fairy-tale characters, will help turn the inhalation procedure into a game. The inhaler must be equipped with a children's mask.

If you intend to use the inhaler to treat and relieve symptoms of chronic diseases such as asthma, allergies, then it will not be superfluous to have batteries or a rechargeable battery. In this case, you can always take the device with you on a long trip.

When choosing an inhaler, it does not hurt to get acquainted with user reviews of each model and visit thematic forums. The opinion of living people will help you decide which inhaler is better.

Popular manufacturers of inhalers

The table below shows the best manufacturers and models of inhalers for children and adults:

Manufacturer	Model	Type of	Price range, rub.
AND, Japan	UN-233 AND	Membrane	4 500 – 7 600
Omron, Japan	OMRON Micro AIR U22	Membrane	10 950 – 16 500
Microlife, Switzerland	Microlife NEB 50A	Compressor	3 750 – 7 750
Little Doctor, Singapore	LD-210C	Compressor	2 500 – 3 500
OMRON, Japan	U17 OMRON	Ultrasonic	8 000 – 16 500
Little Doctor, Singapore	LD 250 U	Ultrasonic	2 700 – 4 000
Gamma, England	Gamma Effect new	Compressor	3 800 – 5 600
B.Well, UK	B.Well WN-115	Compressor	2 555 – 3 720
MED 2000, Italy	MED2000 SI 02 Cow	Steam	1 800 – 2 700
MED 2000, Italy	MED2000 Puppy	Steam	1 800 – 2 700
JSC "BEMZ", Russia	Chamomile - 3	Steam	1 000 – 1 450

What drugs can be poured into the inhaler?

In inhalers, it is necessary to use solutions distributed exclusively through pharmacies. It is not allowed to independently manufacture them from various medicines.

To dilute the liquid to the desired concentration, only 0.9% saline sodium chloride solution is used. It is always necessary to remember that only a doctor can choose the right medicines for treating children. Before you start using the selected device for inhalation, you need to familiarize yourself with which drugs can be used in it and which cannot.

Type of inhaler	What substances cannot be used?	The reasons
Ultrasonic	Oil suspensions, decoctions and tinctures of medicinal herbs, mucolytics, hormones, antiseptics and antibiotics	May damage the device. The structure of drugs is destroyed by ultrasonic waves.
Compressor	No restrictions
Electronic mesh (mesh nebulizers)	No restrictions	Retains all the useful properties of drugs.
Steam	It is forbidden to use almost all medicines, except for essential oils and infusions of medicinal herbs.	Destroyed by high temperature.

Are there any contraindications to the use of inhalers?

Inhalations are contraindicated in the following cases:

• the patient has bleeding from the nose or blood in the sputum when coughing;
• there are diseases of the cardiovascular system: myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure, hypertension 3 tbsp., cerebral atherosclerosis;
• the patient suffers from respiratory diseases: respiratory failure 3 tbsp., recurrent spontaneous pneumothorax, bullous emphysema;
• there is an allergic reaction to the components of the therapeutic aerosol;
• body temperature above 37.5°C.

The site provides reference information for informational purposes only. Diagnosis and treatment of diseases should be carried out under the supervision of a specialist. All drugs have contraindications. Expert advice is required!

Each of us remembers how, in childhood, my mother planted over a saucepan with a fragrant liquid and forced her to breathe from a cough or runny nose. Now we treat our children in the same way. But it turns out to do inhalation it’s not so easy for a child .. site) will tell you in this article.

The most important:

Who should not be inhaled?

Indeed, we are used to the fact that folk methods of treatment can be used without restrictions. It turns out that there are contraindications to inhalation. If your baby is allergic, then choose the drug for inhalation with great care. In no case should you inhale a child if his body temperature is above thirty-seven and a half degrees. If the baby is prone to bleeding from the nose, then, most likely, inhalation is contraindicated for him. If a child has complex ailments accompanied by heart and (or) respiratory failure, then he should not be inhaled. And in general, before starting inhalations, consult a pediatrician.

How to do inhalation to a child?

For babies under one year old, inhalation is best done using an inhaler - a nebulizer that does not require the child to breathe through a tube. Try it, make a six-month-old baby breathe from the spout of the kettle! This is most likely not possible. If the child is already a year old, then such an experiment can be tried. Pour the liquid for inhalation into the teapot. A cardboard cone is placed on the spout of the teapot so that the child breathes through the cone. Sit your child on your lap and hold the kettle on your own. You can’t trust him, even if not a very hot liquid. For babies from a year old, the water temperature should be thirty-five - forty degrees. In no case do not allow the child to breathe until you try it yourself. Children under five years of age should breathe for one to three minutes, older children can increase the duration of the procedure to seven minutes. Inhalations for children of any age are carried out once or twice a day, unless otherwise recommended.

What solutions to choose?

The most harmless inhalation allowed to children of any age is inhalation with soda. For five hundred milliliters of water, take two teaspoons of baking soda. You can replace the soda solution with any alkaline mineral water. Such inhalation will help make a dry cough productive and soften the mucous membranes of the respiratory system.

A fairly simple and affordable solution for inhalation for a child is chamomile solution. Take one tablespoon of dried chamomile flowers, brew with 250 milliliters of boiling water, hold for a couple of half an hour, dilute with another 500 milliliters of boiling water and let cool. Such inhalation can be carried out with any inflammatory processes in the ENT organs, bronchi, lungs. Chamomile perfectly relieves inflammation and destroys harmful microbes.

If the baby has bronchitis, then inhalations using alcohol tinctures of calendula or eucalyptus are very good. Such tinctures can be purchased at any pharmacy. When using an inhaler, you should take twenty milliliters of water and add twenty drops of tincture to it. You can also drip the tincture into hot water for steam inhalation. But for such purposes, it is preferable to use essential oils, they do not evaporate so quickly.

Be careful!

When inhaling a child, the greatest danger is the dilution of an already cooled solution with new boiling water. At this point, the child may be burned by steam or splashes. Be extremely careful, cover all parts of the baby's body so that hot splashes cannot harm him. And best of all, take care of your child and buy a modern inhaler for him.

If your child has frequent colds, please consult your pediatrician. Perhaps he lacks any vitamins or trace elements and this undermines his immunity. The use of special dietary supplements (dietary supplements) for children can solve this problem.