How do you use a Nebulizer?

I am thinking of getting a nebulizer for my asthmatic child. Someone told me that we have to get saline to add together with the medication. And can I use it with just plain water as a decongestant (when she is having a bit of a cold and cough?)


Thank you in advance for your responses.

I remember when my eldset had to use a nebuliser and i hated it.

She had bronchitus and they gave her saline to ease the congestion and open her airways, her favourite program was put on tv and she would howl until the mask was off her, so unless it's been definately advised to use one, i would avoid altogether as found it very harrowing for all involved.

actually my 3 year old loves using it as she also loves visiting the ER when she has had bronchitis. So no problems at all there. How much saline do you usually put in? Don't you add in the medication too?

My son doesn't mind his nebulizer but we have a really quiet one so perhaps that helps. I use water in it to decongest but I've found that a humidifier is OK as well and he doesn't have to sit there for that long.

Hi, I'd suggest running your ideas by your doctor or nurse, just to make sure everything is completely safe and good. When we first got one, the insurance company voluntarily paid for a home health visit for the nurse to show us how to use it. The nurse told us the reason the insurance company was willing to foot the bill for what we thought was an unnecessary visit was that the nebulizer delivers "stuff" so deep into the lungs that if you have the slightest bit of germs in it, it delivers the germs deep down into the lung and cause another set of problems. They wanted to make sure people weren't doing anything that was going to cause a problem. It's not that the nebulizer itself is so complicated, just that it's very important to get it right. But if you are just using it as a humidifier, I don't see the problem with just using some saline, and really it seemed the whole point of the nurse visit was to put the "fear of God" into us as far as boiling equipment, washing hands, keeping everything sterile. For what it's worth, we only put in the albuterol or other medicines into our nebulizer, but those may have been in a premixed solution that already included saline.

Just visited the local doctor and he recomended that we put in 1/3 medication and 2/3 saline into the nebulizer. Took my daughter less than 10 minutes since she's only 3 and her dosage is very little. I hope she grows out of it soon!


Another quick question, which is better for an asthmatic patient...de-humidifier or humidifier? I'm always confused!


Thanks everyone for your replies.

My son was always suffering from block nasal passage when he was small so his pedia recommended the nebulizer. What we bought was the portable one (Pulmo Mist) which does not require a mask, it has a tube which can be used to release steam near the nose. I only use saline water. No medication at all. Steam helps a lot.

We use our nebulizer at home with saline if any of the kids get a bit croupy. We have found with my son that the humdity stops his asthma.

I think your dehumid vs humid Q is a good one and I don't know the answer. Except that excess humidity encourages growth of mold (bad) but you don't want air to get too dry and dry out nasal membranes etc. (also bad). Maybe humidify if it's too dry (from heater or AC or desert air) and de-humidify if it's raining every day like now?

Here's the deal: First there are 2 types of machines; Humidifiers and nebulizers. They are completely different. Humidifier are separated to warm and cool mists.


Humidifiers: They are used for croup and as a decongestants. No medications should go into into it (over the counter medications are made for it but not recommended by doctors, just drug companies). You put water not saline into it.


If you use a warm, it's simple but it tropical climates, it can get uncomfortable.


If you use a cool mist, it is more comfortable but a little more hassle. First you must use distilled not just bottled water because the particles get aerosolized and make things worse. Simlarly, it must be cleaned well and frequently because mold can grow in it and aeroslized molds are also bad.


Humidifiers are to be placed in the room, not over the patient.


Nebulizers and meant to be used to deliver medications and thus it must be placed over the patient airways; via in the mouth for older patients, used with a mask for younger patients or "blow by" for incooperative patients (you just put the mist in front of the face and the infant gets what they can, still quite effective and rare that kids freak out over it). You MUST use saline for that. If you use water it will irritate the airways. Allergists INDUCE asthmatic attacks by using sterile water. The amount of medication depend on the type and concentration. Most of the medications come premixed with saline for convience. Few come unmixed and thus you have to dilute (Most commonly Albuterol in a bottle with a dropper which you should use 0.5 cc with 2.5 cc saline though it more commonly comes premixed i.e. 2.5 mg/ 3cc).


Though most physicians recommend ajusting the dose for infants (1.25 mgs per), it should probably concentration related rather than dosage. You can probably use the adult dose for infants but studies for this really hasn't determine things one way or another.


Other medications include Ipatropium, Xopenex (isomer of albuterol), cromolyn, inhaled steroids etc.. but these usually come premixed.


Some people do use the nebulizers with straight saline to loosen up secretions, perfectly safe but again never use water, saline only.


Hope it clarify things.