Which inhaler should I choose for my child?

The fall and winter season is a hard time for parents. Children, especially the youngest ones, nurseries and preschoolers, start to get sick. Both completely innocent colds and runny nose, as well as any inflammation of the throat, ear or even lungs are well known to parents of ailments. Inhalations, or actually nebulizations, come in handy. And here many parents have doubts, is it just a matter of interchangeable nomenclature, or is there really a difference between the two? This also translates into a decision to do so which inhaler to buy? So let's explain.

A good inhaler, or what?

Okay, now that we know the difference, let's think about it which inhaler to buy, what it really is good inhaler for children? The market provides us with many devices with different modes of operation. So if we have to buy this equipment, we do not leave it to chance. It is better to find out in advance what parameters a really good device has, and therefore which inhaler to choose.

We divide inhalers into:

• pneumatic - piston: the most popular devices that can be purchased for a relatively small price. They consist of a base - compressor, and a rubber hose with a medicine cup, ended with a mouthpiece or a mask. They can be used to administer all drugs and substances intended for nebulization. These are inexpensive and durable devices. Piston or compressor inhaler, because it is an interchangeable nomenclature - it will just be a good choice as baby inhaler, but also for an older child.
• ultrasonic: they do not have a compressor, as the name suggests, the particles are broken up by ultrasound. Their undoubted advantages are small size and quiet operation. A disadvantage, and a big disadvantage, when we talk about these devices in the context of administering drugs to young children, is the fact that steroids and suspension drugs cannot be administered with them. Additionally, the aerosol produced by them may irritate the respiratory tract of young children, therefore they are not recommended for children under the age of one. The undoubted disadvantage is also the price of the device and the cost of its operation. It is also impossible to connect additional accessories, which is a big downside if we buy equipment with the thought that it will be mainly nebulizer for a child.
• membrane (mesh): their cost and operation are quite expensive. The advantage is that they can be used to administer virtually all drugs, they are small, light and quiet, so they will work well as baby nebulizer.

This is a basic division, but before we go to a pharmacy or a medical store, it is worth having a deeper "bite" into the parameters of the models we are interested in, because they determine whether it will be a good inhaler for our child, and the treatment with his help is effective. Certainly, the largest selection, both in terms of parameters and shapes, as we are tempted by manufacturers, will be in the group of inhalers piston or compressor. In addition to traditional devices, we have a choice of fudge, dogs, teddy bears, penguins and others, hence the parents' dilemmas are justified which inhaler to buy? 

How to choose an inhaler? Which parameters are particularly important?

We are in a hurry with the answer. 

1. One of the most important parameters of an inhaler is respiratory fraction. The value is here expressed as a percentage and it is best when our device is in the range of 70-80%. The respiratory fraction is the amount of aerosol particles smaller than 5 microns. Generally, the higher the percentage, the better. This means that such an amount of aerosol will reach the lower parts of the respiratory system. Why is it so important? Since particles over 8 µm only reach the upper respiratory tract, they will treat infections of the throat and nose. Those from 5 µm to 8 µm will reach the trachea and large bronchi, from 2 µm to 5 µm - they heal the bronchi and bronchioles. Particle sizes from 0,5 µm to 3 µm are effective in lung treatment.

Some devices have two modes of operation. In each of these modes, the size of the particles to be broken may vary, so the drug may arrive a little "shallower" in an accelerated mode. By paying attention to this parameter, we have a chance to buy good inhaler.

1. Another essential parameter is MMAD. This is the average value of the molecules. This means that approximately half of the particles produced have a size equal to that stated. Good inhaler it has a MMAD value of around 2-3 µm.
2. The next parameter that will tell us what nebulizer for a child choose it

Gas flow and nebulization speed are also important parameters. The speed of nebulization shows us how much of the preparation is broken down in one minute. The minimum range that the device should have is 0,29 - 0,35. 

The optimal gas flow is 8-16 l / min. 

1. Dead volume is a parameter given less frequently than others, only by some manufacturers. This is the amount of medicine that will remain in the container - it will be written off. The lower the value, the better for us as users.
2. And one more parameter that is worth paying attention to, especially when buying baby inhaleris the volume. A baby can get scared by a very loud device, so if we decide to use it piston inhaler, let's check, if possible, that our toddler will not be afraid of him. 
3. The possibility of connecting additional equipment, such as an irrigator, or buying spare masks for the model will be an additional, important advantage of the device, especially if it is baby inhaler. The decision to use an irrigator to rinse the sinuses cannot be made by a parent and agreed with a doctor.

And the last point - let's not forget about taking care of hygiene and servicing the device. Let's replace filters and plastic elements bearing in mind that their poor quality will result in ineffective nebulization.

Regardless of which model you choose, it is worth checking the opinions of the inhaler beforehand. Modern parents have a source of knowledge in the form of websites and internet forums where they can learn or compare opinions and find out, for example, which inhaler is recommended by other parents. We can find help and a lot of valuable advice that will tell you which one to choose.