Asthma in Children: Helping a Child Use a Metered-Dose Inhaler and Mask Spacer
Introduction
The medicines used for
asthma are often delivered through a metered-dose
inhaler (MDI). Using an MDI with a mask spacer:
- Helps a young child get an accurate dose of
medicine.
- Delivers most of a measured dose of medicine directly to
your child's lungs.
- Can help keep your child's asthma symptoms
under control and allow your child to live an active life.
- May prevent or reduce side effects of the
medicine.
- May let your child use less medicine than is found in a
pill but get the same effect.
- May result in the medicine working
faster than a pill form.
A metered-dose inhaler (MDI) is a handheld device that delivers a
measured dose of medicine directly to the lungs. The medicine is usually in an
aerosol form.
Using a spacer with an MDI is the most efficient way
to get the most medicine to your child's lungs. A spacer works like a holding
area for the medicine before your child breathes in. Using a spacer with the
MDI may improve the delivery of the medicine and may help your child if he or
she has problems with releasing the medicine and inhaling at the same time. A
spacer should always be used with inhaled
corticosteroids to avoid side effects.
A
mask spacer is a spacer with a face mask at the end of the spacer. This is put
over your child's mouth and nose. Mask spacers are used for young children who
cannot use a spacer with a mouthpiece. They are usually needed for children
from infancy through about age 5. But many children about age 2 and older do
not like the mask. Encourage them to learn to use a standard spacer if they are
willing to try it. Older children and adults who have problems using an MDI and
spacer can also use a mask spacer.
Test Your Knowledge
Using an MDI with a mask spacer may make it easier for
your child to get the medicine to his or her lungs.
- True
This answer is correct.Using an MDI with a mask spacer may make it
easier for your child to get the medicine to his or her lungs.
- False
This answer is incorrect.Using an MDI with a mask spacer may make it
easier for your child to get the medicine to his or her lungs.
-
Continue to Why?
Using a metered-dose inhaler (MDI) with a mask spacer is
helpful because:
- It provides a puff of medicine in an accurate,
measured dose.
- It can help keep your child's symptoms under control
and allow him or her to stay active.
- When an MDI with a mask spacer
is used effectively, most of the medicine is delivered directly to your child's
lungs and does not travel throughout the body. This may prevent or reduce side
effects in the rest of your child's body.
- Your child may be able to
use less medicine than is found in a pill but get the same
effect.
- The medicine may work faster than a pill.
Test Your Knowledge
An MDI with a mask spacer may help your child avoid
side effects of medicine.
- True
This answer is correct.An MDI with a mask spacer may help your child
avoid side effects of medicine, because when the spacer is used effectively,
most of the medicine goes to the lungs and does not travel to other parts the
body.
- False
This answer is incorrect.An MDI with a mask spacer may help your child
avoid side effects of medicine, because when the spacer is used effectively,
most of the medicine goes to the lungs and does not travel to other parts the
body.
-
Continue to How?
Before using a metered-dose inhaler (MDI) with a mask
spacer:
- Talk with your doctor to be sure that you
know how to use the MDI and mask spacer correctly. Be sure your child uses them
exactly as your doctor has prescribed.
- Depending on his or her age,
teach your child how to check that he or she has the correct medicine. If your
child uses several inhalers, put a label on each one so that he or she knows
which one to use at the right time. Consider using different colors or stickers
to help your child see the difference between medicines.
- Check the
label of the inhaler medicine to see how many inhalations should be in the
canister. If you and your child know how many breaths he or she can take, the
inhaler can be replaced before it runs out. Learn how to test the canister to
estimate how much medicine is left. Your doctor or pharmacist can help you and
your child with this.
Test Your Knowledge
After spraying one puff of medicine into the mask
spacer, your child takes one deep breath.
- True
This answer is incorrect.After spraying one puff of medicine into the
mask spacer, your child breathes normally for about 20 seconds. But a single
deep breath to inhale the medicine is preferred for older children, teens, and
adults.
- False
This answer is correct.After spraying one puff of medicine into the
mask spacer, your child breathes normally for about 20 seconds. But a single
deep breath to inhale the medicine is preferred for older children, teens, and
adults.
-
Continue to Where?
Now that you have read this
information, you are ready to help your child use a metered-dose inhaler with a
mask spacer.
Talk with your doctor
If you have questions about
this information, take it with you when you visit your doctor.
Return to topic:
Credits
| By | Healthwise Staff |
|---|
| Primary Medical Reviewer | E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine |
|---|
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Lora J. Stewart, MD - Allergy and Immunology |
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| Last Revised | March 17, 2011 |
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Last Revised:
March 17, 2011