Contents
*Overview of the best according to the editors of Healthy Food Near Me. About selection criteria. This material is subjective, is not an advertisement and does not serve as a guide to the purchase. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.
Inhalers are used in the treatment of respiratory diseases. Today you will find out which inhalation therapy devices are suitable for children and what features you need to pay attention to when buying.
The best manufacturers of inhalers
The best manufacturers of medical equipment and devices for inhalation therapy:
Omron (Japan);
Little Doctor (Singapur);
Longevita (Great Britain);
Flaem Nuova (Italy);
B. Well (Great Britain).
The products of the above companies are known for their high quality, long service life, and safety. The inhalers have passed a number of preclinical, clinical (in humans) studies and meet international quality standards.
Inhaler vs Nebulizer – What’s the difference?
When buying an inhaler, you may hear another name – “nebulizer”. What is it?
An inhaler is a generalized term for devices that create coarse or fine aerosols of medicines to deliver medicine to a “diseased” part of the respiratory tract. A nebulizer is a type of inhaler that creates finely dispersed (small droplets) aerosols that penetrate the upper / lower respiratory tract. It is used to relieve the symptoms of bronchial asthma, pneumonia, bronchitis.
Almost all devices for inhalation can be called nebulizers (except for steam models).
Types of inhalers
Steam inhalers for children
Steam devices create coarse aerosols aimed at the upper respiratory tract. They are not suitable for the treatment of pathological conditions in the trachea, bronchi, lungs, but they successfully treat acute respiratory infections, laryngitis, pharyngitis, etc.
By the principle of operation, steam inhalers resemble a saucepan with potatoes, over which we were forced to breathe in childhood. Water (herbal infusion, infusion of essential oils) is poured into the device, which is heated by electricity, and steam is released. You need to bend over the inhaler and breathe. Often the device is equipped with a mask.
A steam inhaler is more convenient and safer than the notorious saucepan – it acts quickly and does not cause burns to the upper respiratory tract in a child.
Steam inhalation is contraindicated:
Children under one year of age;
Preschoolers, if inhalation is not prescribed by a doctor;
At elevated body temperature;
Children diagnosed with a bacterial infection, otitis.
Advantages
Ease of use;
Low price (from 200 to 1 rubles);
Rapid response to the treatment of upper respiratory tract diseases in a patient.
Disadvantages
Contraindicated for small children;
When heated, part of the medicinal compounds is lost;
Not effective in the treatment of diseases of the lower respiratory tract.
Ultrasonic inhalers (nebulizers) for a child
Ultrasonic nebulizers work by means of a piezoelectric transducer that vibrates at high frequencies. The vibration is enough to turn a liquid medicine into an aerosol.
Advantages
Light weight (100–200 g);
Portability;
Can be charged from the battery / mains;
Suitable for children;
They don’t make noise.
Disadvantages
Ultrasonic devices are expensive (about 2–500 rubles);
Not suitable for all types of drugs;
Require regular replacement of components (medicine cups);
Ultrasound reduces the effectiveness of some drugs.
Compression inhalers (nebulizers) for a child
The inhaler sends a stream of compressed air to a mixer where oxygen and liquid medicine are mixed to form an aerosol. The aerosol is inhaled by the child through a mask.
Advantages
Suitable for children under three years old;
The drug acts quickly on the target organ;
Retain the maximum number of medicinal compounds;
Suitable for all types of drugs;
They are used to treat diseases of the upper / lower respiratory tract;
Affordable cost (on average, 1–500 rubles).
Disadvantages
They make noise – even from the next room you can hear how the device works;
Large weight (300–2 g).
Mesh nebulizers for children
Mesh nebulizers emit ultrasound that acts on a special membrane. The membrane vibrates and creates an aerosol.
Advantages
Suitable for almost all types of medicines (except for oil preparations);
Used in the treatment of young children;
Can be charged from the battery / mains;
Do not make sounds during operation;
Light weight (100–150 g);
Compact dimensions;
Can be used in any position (sitting, lying) of the patient.
Disadvantages
High price (3–000 rubles).
What parameters to pay attention to when buying
particle size
The success of the treatment of the disease depends on the size of the aerosol particles:
6-10 microns – the drug is sprayed onto the upper respiratory tract. Helps in the treatment of laryngitis, pharyngitis, rhinitis, pathological conditions in the ear-nose-throat area.
3-5 microns – the drug enters the lower respiratory tract (trachea, bronchi) and affects the corresponding target organs.
0,5–2 μm – the aerosol is sprayed on alveoli and bronchioles.
Some inhalers allow you to change the size of the aerosol particles. But they are expensive and rarely used at home (more often in hospitals).
Appearance
There are special children’s nebulizers. They are produced in the form of animals, cartoon characters, trains, cars. Some models are equipped with additional toys that the child plays during inhalation. This helps turn the unpleasant therapeutic process of the self into an exciting game.
Power supply method
Some compression (rare), ultrasonic and mesh devices are powered by mains, batteries, car cigarette lighter. Batteries are not always included. Powered by batteries and a car cigarette lighter, you can use the nebulizer on the road. Batteries last for 35-45 minutes (two or three inhalations).
Attention! This material is subjective, is not an advertisement and does not serve as a guide to the purchase. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.