The Use An Inhaler
When a child is breathing rapidly, has a wheezing sound in their chest, or is coughing heavily, and has been diagnosed with a narrowed airway due to bronchitis or pneumonia, an inhaler can be used. Inhalers, whether nebulizers, metered-dose inhalers with spacers, or dry powder inhalers, work faster than oral medication to quickly relieve coughing and chest tightness.
Doctors may also prescribe "controller" inhalers for long-term management, such as for a chronic cough, shortness of breath after exercise, or nighttime coughing.
Inhalers are not more dangerous than oral medication. In fact, rescue inhalers (beta-agonists like salbutamol or terbutaline) can be dosed according to a child's weight. The medication works directly on the airways, providing immediate relief. Oral medications, on the other hand, contain a much higher dose of medicine in a single pill or teaspoon because the medication must travel through the digestive system before reaching the lungs. However, side effects like tremors, a racing heart, and abnormal heart rhythm may be more noticeable with oral medication.
The dose of steroids in an inhaler is thousands of times smaller than in a pill or injection. While oral steroids taken for more than two weeks can suppress adrenal gland function and affect bone growth, inhaled steroids are much safer for long-term use, even over months or years.
Inhalers are typically divided into two categories:
These are used for immediate relief during an asthma attack or when airways are constricted. They are fast-acting bronchodilators that open up the airways.
These are used to reduce airway inflammation over the long term and prevent asthma attacks. They are taken regularly, as prescribed by a doctor, even when a child feels fine.
