How to choose a nebulizer for children?

Nebulizers are incredibly popular devices today. At the first signs of the onset of the disease in the child, caring parents immediately begin to do inhalation with saline or mineral water. Timely therapy with a nebulizer often helps the baby's body cope with a beginning cold before the onset of complications.

In addition, nebulizers are widely used not only for prevention, but also for the treatment of certain diseases. In this case, inhalation should be performed with various medications. Absolutely irreplaceable is the nebulizer in the treatment of obstructive bronchitis in a young child.

In this article, we will try to explain what this device is, and how to choose a good nebulizer for children from the wide variety available on the market.

Types of nebulizers

To begin with, it is worth noting that the inhaler and nebulizer are similar concepts, but not the same thing. A nebulizer is a device that converts a liquid into an aerosol in which particles of matter have a diameter of 1 to 10 microns. Depending on the size of these particles can affect different parts of the respiratory system.

There are the following types of nebulizers:

  1. Ultrasonic nebulizer. The formation of an aerosol from a liquid here occurs as a result of the action of high-frequency ultrasound. Such technology usually leads to heating of the drug substance and, consequently, its destruction, which significantly limits the scope of this type of nebulizer.
  2. In a compressor nebulizer, the conversion of liquid into aerosol takes place under the influence of compressed air created by the compressor. Such inhalers are excellent for the prevention and treatment of various diseases in a home hospital environment, but often they are too large and heavy, and also loudly rustle during operation.
  3. Finally, the last generation of these devices is mash-nebulizers. Here the liquid, passing through the membrane with the smallest holes, is transformed into an aerosol. Due to the absence of a compressor, the mash-nebulizer does not make a lot of noise and has very compact overall dimensions, which allows you to take it with you when you leave.

How to choose a nebulizer for a child?

When asked which nebulizer is best for the child, there is no definitive answer. Each type of this device has its own advantages and disadvantages. Meanwhile, ultrasonic inhalers do not have the necessary curative effect, which means they should not be bought for children.

It's not always easy to choose between a compressor and a mesh nebulizer. Basically, the choice of the device here will depend on the age of the child. For newborn babies for up to a year, it is better to purchase a mesh nebulizer that works without producing noise, which means that you can even turn it on while you are sleeping crumbs.

For older children should consider a variety of variations of children's compressor nebulizers. Usually they have an unusual shape and bright color and will be able to interest the child. In addition, a set of such devices often include various toys.