The duration and frequency of inhalation for children

One of the most common diseases in childhood are colds, ARVI and other lesions of the respiratory system. In their treatment inhalations are often used, using steam inhalers or different types of nebulizers for such procedures.

But, before making the inhalation of their child, each parent must know why this procedure is needed, in which case it can harm the baby, and how often and how long the inhalation can be carried out in childhood.

With the help of inhalation, you can eliminate nasal congestion, dry or wet cough, runny nose, bronchospasm, sore throat. Such procedures eliminate inflammation, moisturize the mucous membrane and enhance local immunity. Their appointment is justified by:

• ARVI;
• Acute bronchitis;
• Acute laryngitis, tracheitis or antritis;
• Respiratory tract burns;
• Exacerbation of chronic tonsillitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis, bronchitis or sinusitis;
• Bronchial asthma;
• Pneumonia during recovery;
• Fungal lesions of the respiratory tract;
• Tuberculosis;
• Cystic fibrosis;
• Emphysema

Inhalations are not recommended:

• In early childhood (for different drugs and different types of inhalation has its own age limit).
• With bacterial sore throat or otitis.
• With pneumonia (acute stage).
• During fever (procedures are permissible only at temperatures not higher than + 37 ° C).
• With a tendency to bleeding from the nose or detection of blood in the sputum.
• In case of intolerance of the drug, which is used for the procedure.
• In severe condition of the child (respiratory and heart failure).

The most common frequency of inhalation is twice a day. Many drugs are recommended to be administered by inhalation three times a day, for example, Miramistin, Tussamag, Chlorophyllipt or berodual. If a saline solution is used for the procedure, such inhalations can be made 2 to 4 times daily.

The duration of one procedure is determined taking into account the age of the child and the type of inhalation. Small children are not advised to breathe steam or through a nebulizer for more than five minutes. Children older inhalation carried out for 7-10 minutes. Long procedures can cause a child to not continue such treatment.

About the fact with which it is better to make inhalations to the baby and whether it is worth doing inhalations over a basin, look in transfer of Dr. Komarovsky.

Depending on the drug used for inhalation, the procedures are prescribed for a period of five to eleven days. For example, inhalations with lazolvan or with berodual are recommended to be done for no longer than 5 days, and procedures with mineral water can be carried out for a long time until the symptoms of the disease are eliminated. Inhalation with an ACC injection is prescribed for no longer than 10 days.

• Using any type of nebulizer for inhalation, it should be remembered that an oil solution cannot be poured into such a device (this threatens with complications such as pneumonia) or herbal decoctions (this increases the risk of clogging and breakage of the device).
• The procedure is carried out mostly standing or in a sitting position, although there are models of nebulizers that allow inhalation lying down.
• Depending on the disease, the child must breathe through a mask or through a tube. In case of diseases of the nasopharynx and throat, inhale the medication in the form of an aerosol with a nose, and inhale the cough with a mouth.
• If the child is prescribed steam inhalation, you should protect the baby from the risks of burns with hot steam. For this purpose, it is necessary to ensure that the water temperature is not higher than + 60 ° C.
• Dilute drugs with sterile saline should be immediately before the procedure. The remains of the diluted drug is not stored.
• After the procedure, it is important to wash the face of the child, as well as to ensure that the baby rinses the mouth. If the child is too young to rinse, they give him to drink clean water.
• Drinking and eating are allowed only 30-60 minutes after the procedure. Before inhalation should not eat for 1.5-2 hours.

Before using the inhaler, we recommend watching videos of the Union of Pediatricians of Russia.