The following steps are recommended when giving a treatment to your child. But always talk with your child's healthcare provider for specific instructions. Instructions will also vary by specific nebulizer. Make sure you know how to use yours.
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Wash your hands. Gather supplies needed, including:
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Medicine to be nebulized and additional nebulizing solution such as sterile saline, if needed.
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Nebulizer set. This is the nebulizer cup, mouthpiece or mask, and tubing to connect to nebulizer machine.
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Find a quiet activity for your child to do while he or she sits up for the treatment. Some examples are reading a book, drawing, or playing a quiet game.
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Place the nebulizer on a flat surface. This might be on a table or the floor.
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Plug the unit into a wall outlet.
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Connect the tubing to the nebulizer machine.
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Put the medicine into the nebulizer cup and screw the cap on securely. Some medicine may be premixed. Other medicine may need to be measured.
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Connect the other end of the air tubing to the nebulizer cup.
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Connect the mouthpiece or face mask to the nebulizer cup.
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Turn the machine on.
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Check to make sure a fine mist of medicine is coming through the face mask or mouthpiece. Most nebulizer cups need to be held upright to work correctly.
Mouthpiece:
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Place the mouthpiece in your child's mouth with their lips sealed around the mouthpiece.
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Encourage your child to take slow deep breaths in and out of their mouth. The mist should disappear with each breath.
Face mask:
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Encourage your child to continue slow, deep breaths until all the medicine in the nebulizer cup is gone. You may need to tap the sides of the nebulizer cup to make sure all medicine is given.
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Turn the nebulizer off.
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If you check your child's peak flow, make sure you measure it before and after the treatment.