Kids

Why Every Household Needs a Nebulizer

by Gretchen Gatan Fragada
October 11, 2023

If you or your kids are prone to respiratory illnesses, having a nebulizer at home can work more effectively vs. pills, shots, or inhalers.

With the aftermath of a pandemic, we’ve seen a rise in millennial parents investing in a nebulizer. Unlike before when nebulizers were more common among those with asthma or respiratory illnesses, these days, it’s good to have one at home — especially for families with babies, toddlers, and young children.

What is a nebulizer?

A nebulizer is an electrical device that converts liquid medication into a medicated mist. You then inhale the mist using a mask or a mouthpiece.

It expels the medicated mist in a steady stream until either all the medicine has been used or the machine is turned off. The time spent inhaling the medication will vary. But it usually lasts anywhere between 10 to 20 minutes.

More often than not, doctors prescribe nebulizers to those with lung disorders. These include asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis, and bronchiectasis. They also prescribe it for a child who has a respiratory infection, such as bronchiolitis.

What are the benefits of having a nebulizer?

1. Nebulizer treatments work faster

According to the American Association for Respiratory Care, certain medications work approximately five minutes after you take them by nebulizer vs. a pill form which begins to work roughly 30 minutes after.

This is because the digestive system first needs to break down the medicines that you swallow. Then it has to enter the bloodstream and circulate until it reaches the part of the body actually in need of the medicine. Meanwhile, medicines taken by a nebulizer bypasses the digestive system and the bloodstream, going immediately to the inflamed airways.

2. They produce fewer side effects

Using a nebulizer tends to produce fewer side effects than taking medicines orally. Fewer patients complain of increased heartbeats or headaches, too.

Especially for those with asthma, nebulizer therapy can be used for years with less side effects compared to steroid treatment which can cause higher blood sugar level, higher blood pressure, weight gain, and even the loss of bone mass.

3. Nebulizers are simple to use and convenient

The simplicity of using a nebulizer makes it possible for most people to administer their medication at home without any assistance from healthcare workers.

Additionally, nebulizers don’t require the patient to inhale or exhale in a certain way compared to inhalers, which require patients to perform a complex choreography involving their inhalation and exhalation along with triggering the device.

They come in sizes small enough to take anywhere, too. They’re easy to unpack and set up. Moreover, there are portable nebulizers that are very travel-friendly!

A typical nebulizer like the one from Indoplas requires only one normal household outlet. However, there are battery-operated ones available like the one from Dr. Isla, which can also be plugged in via USB.

4. They are cost effective

Another benefit is that nebulizers are relatively inexpensive. A trip to the emergency room costs several more than that of an average nebulizer. Imagine having to go to the ER because your family didn’t have a nebulizer. And once inside, you or your child receive the same medicine using a nebulizer that you could have just used at home.