2024-01-15 19:16:34
When we hear the word aerosol we immediately think of respiratory illnesses, coughs, colds and hoarse voices. The aerosol is mainly used for lower respiratory tract pathologiessuch as pneumonia, bronchitis and arm, but it can also be useful in treating rhinitis, allergies, sinusitis and otitis. In addition to the tool that we all know, in medicine for aerosol means a colloidal system consisting of liquid or solid particles dispersed in a gas, which is produced and inhaled through a device.
How the aerosol machine works
The internal structure of the aerosol device includes purification filters, a discharge valve and the misting system. On the outside we find the connection tube, the bulb and the inhalation devices: the mouthpiece, the nasal fork and the mask. The first, often underestimated, It allows perfect inhalation, but is impractical to use, because you have to inhale through your mouth tightly wrapped around the mouthpiece and plug your nose with your fingers. The fork is best suited to reach the upper respiratory tract, while the mask, much simpler and more comfortable to use, might cause dispersion of the medication if it is not positioned. fits the face well. The nebulization system reduces the medication into very small droplets, approximately 1 micron, or a thousandth of a millimeter, capable of effectively reaching both the upper (nose, throat) and lower (bronchi and lungs) respiratory tract. Depending on the nebulization system adopted, there are two types of aerosols:
- piston aerosol: A compressor generates a high-pressure flow of air inside the ampoule, hitting the drug solution and nebulizing it into very fine particles.
- ultrasonic aerosol: the nebulization of the pharmacological solution into numerous small drops occurs using a high frequency current.
The ultrasonic aerosol is faster and less noisy than the piston aerosol, which is why it is more convenient to use when you have young children, but it can change the structure of certain medications, such as corticosteroids, to which case it is not recommended. The choice between the two will therefore mainly depend on the type of medication used, but also on the patience and time you have available.
Once the tube is connected to the bulb, you can insert the medicinepossibly diluted with a physiological solution, inside the bulb. The quantity of medication should be as prescribed by the doctor and should in no case exceed 4 to 5 ml. If the dose to be used is already equal to or greater than this quantity, aerosol therapy can be carried out without saline solution. At this point we can turn on the aerosol and proceed to inhale until the liquid in the ampoule is exhausted (on average 10 to 20 minutes).
What drugs are used for aerosolization?
The medications usually prescribed for aerosol therapy are formulated specifically for this type of administration. These are therefore preparations sterile and usually in liquid form such as vials. Mucolytics can be used to thin mucus, cortisone and anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, antibiotics, anti-asthmatics and bronchodilators. It is often thought that using aerosols only with saline solution is useful for quickly decongesting the nose, but in this case they are more useful. nasal washes classics, or, if you really want to use the aerosol, it is better to opt for the nasal fork.
Is the aerosol done with open or closed mouth?
Compared to other types of administration, aerosol therapy allows the use of a smaller quantity of medication, with fewer side effects it’s a’more targeted action.
In general, it is good to inhale through your nose and exhale through your mouth, but we can take certain precautions. For bronchial and pulmonary disorders, use the mouthpiece or breathe deeply with your mouth to prevent part of the medicine from being filtered through the nasal mucosa. In case of allergies, sinusitis or colds, it is best to breathe through your nose or use a fork. apply the medication to the affected mucous membranes. Better to use it before meals, to prevent a heavy lunch from affecting your breathing capacity. And remember that if you prefer a mask, it must cover your nose and mouth perfectly and you must not loosen the handle or the elastic to minimize the dispersion of steam.
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