Helping Your Child Use a Nebulizer Sometimes children’s allergy symptoms don’t stop with a stuffy nose and watery eyes. If your child has allergic asthma, the most common form of asthma, exposure to allergens like pollen and mold can cause breathing passages to become swollen and inflamed. Childhood allergies that trigger asthma can lead to wheezing, shortness of breath, and difficulty breathing.

When that happens, your child’s doctor may prescribe the use of a breathing machine called a nebulizer. The following Q & A will help you teach your child how to get the most benefit from using a nebulizer.

Recommended Related to Children

Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood

Important It is possible that the main title of the report Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood is not the name you expected. Please check the synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and disorder subdivision(s) covered by this report.

Read the Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood article > >

What Is a Nebulizer?

A nebulizer is a machine that’s used to deliver asthma medication to the lungs. It does this by converting liquid medication into a mist. The mist can then be inhaled.

What Medications are Delivered With a Nebulizer?

There are several types of allergic asthma medicines that can be delivered by a nebulizer. They include:

• Inhaled corticosteroids. These drugs have been used for more than half a century. They reduce breathing passage inflammation, bronchial tube swelling, and the overproduction of mucus.
• Bronchodilators. These drugs are often used on an as-needed basis. They’re used to address asthma symptoms.
• Non-steroid anti-inflammatory medications. These drugs lessen inflammation in the airways. Although they have few side effects, they do not control the symptoms of allergic asthma as well as inhaled corticosteroids.