Does nebulizer help with pneumonia?

When it comes to pneumonia, people are willing to try just about anything to feel better. One of the treatments that often comes up in discussions is nebulizers. But does a nebulizer actually help with pneumonia or is this just another old wives’ tale? In this article, we’ll explore what exactly a nebulizer is, how it works, and whether or not it’s an effective treatment for those battling through a bout of pneumonia.

The Basics: What Is A Nebulizer?

Before we dive into the crux of our discussion today – whether or not a nebulizer can help treat pneumonia – let us first outline the basics around these devices.

A nebulizer is essentially an electronic device that converts liquid medication into mist form which one can inhale by breathing naturally (we know, crazy right?!) This helps medication reach your lungs quicker and potentially provide relief faster than other forms of medicine delivery systems like cough syrups and capsules.

How Does It Work?

To understand if using a nebuliser for treating pneumonia will prove useful or futile, it’s essential first to comprehend how they work.

The term nebula refers to small water droplets in the air (usually clouds). Unlike any traditional type of administering drugs through mouth or injection, nebula treatment administers meds directly into its site of action – respiratory passages- thereby providing more rapid recovery times from chronic diseases such as asthma and lung infections like bronchitis & pneumonia [Nebularization! Science has done way too much cool sht lately!!!].

Can Nebulizers Help With Pneumonia Treatment?

Now here’s perhaps where things get interesting…whether there are enough studies conducted on finding out whether use of nebulisers when dealing with pneumonic patients had substantial results. And there have been cases reported worldwide where physicians preferred administering nebulizer treatment to kids and adults suffering from severity of pneumonia, with results reflecting expedited rate of recovery.

Advantages And Disadvantages

Simply put, like anything else you are about to read anywhere or study regarding any subject under the sun, using a nebuliser for treating Pneumonia comes with its own set of pros & cons. But since we always want the best for our readers (you’re welcome!), let’s break that down:

Pros

  • Speedy Recovery
  • Reducing incisions on skin area
  • Provides medication directly through infection region

Cons

But after every yin there is yang so here’s why people refrain from this out-of-the-box alternate option:

  • Nebulising too frequently/administering wrong dose can cause allergic reactions – Administering it at home without medical supervision might lead to an adverse reaction
  • Needs constant cleaning hence low Portability

Also Receiving a prescription every time can become quite cumbersome especially in areas where manual prescriptions pose logistic problems leading patients skipping or dismissing important doses.

Correct Protocol To Follow When Using A Nebulizer:

It wasn’t made in heaven but it works beautifully once you know how. Here are some common steps which must be followed when somebody is being administered/nebulized via a nebulizer device:

1) Stir/shake medicine Bottle that has been prescribed by physician.
2) Measure correct dosage as per recommendation note provided along with bottle
3) Pour said measured amount into the holding chamber right before face mask attachment
4) Switch off exhaust temporarily while attaching patient interface(T piece may be used if necessary)
5) Encase both Nose & Mouth fully within suitable breathing apparatus/mask (& blow your nose first!!!!!).
6) Take breaths slowly/gently inhaling drug mist generated systematically
7 ) Continue till medicated liquid is completely depleted from container

And that’s it, Bob’s your uncle! (Yes we used an uncommon phrase with a taste of british slang – because why not? We like to keep things exciting!)

Other Vital Tips To Keep In Mind Before Nebulizing

Using the nebulizer properly and following recommended procedure are obviously important when treating pneumonia but their effectiveness can be reliant on other factors as well:

Keeping The Nebulizer Clean!

Though it might not necessarily sanitize or sterilize microorganisms in atmosphere around you (Holy Smokes Batman!), cleaning your nebulizer properly prevents residual traces medication between doses which may cause irritation. (Saw that one coming didn’t ya?)

  • Disinfect every day after use
  • Do not allow excess water to accumulate
  • When connecting bleach 50mg/L during final rinse

Post-Treatment Steps:

Once done inhaling medicine mist via nebulisation, there exist some basic steps one must follow though these vary slightly for kids and adults:

For kids:

1) Use disposable hand wipes with highest possible alcohol content/ handwipe before administering any aid.
2) Gently wipe hands & face(especially eyes)
3).Dimming lights prior bedtime increases ability to sleep optimally
4). Ask child/toddler about expunging whatever remainder sensations felt.

[Also try supplementing choline and creatine into diet that holds multiple neuroprotective benefits such as age-related memory improvements]

For Adults:

1) Rinse mouth out/space between teeth post-nebulation dosage consumption
2) Exhale forcefully immediately after trying inhalationg drug
3) Replace/dispose appliance if it has air leakages(most hospital set-ups have spares ready ).
4)[Pumping iron?! Dumbbell curls may benefit strength build-up especially in severe cases where prolonged bed rest may deter muscle degredation].

Overall, while nebulizers may not be a one-size-fits-all solution for pneumonia patients, it certainly seems to offer promise in some cases. If you’re looking for alternative treatment methods or have been prescribed this by your physician – thankfully the beloved little device is quite simple to use just ensure you stick to recommended dosage and cleaning protocols.

So next time someone asks whether Nebulisers are effective in treating Pneumonia- You can now headbangingly nod with extreme confidence saying that YES IT SURE CAN BE!

In Conclusion….

Nebulizers are being widely used as an alternate form of medication administration therapy for respiratory illnesses worldwide due to increased efficacy,and one cannot deny its potential.It has shown brilliant results in limited studies conducted but larger scale testing needs to be done.

If you’re considering using a Nebulizer at home or anywhere besides a hospital set-up, make sure you follow proper instructions carefully whilst maintaining hygiene standards.

However, if overuse or incorrect utilization becomes prevalent(this was said earlier on , so we mean it), there might soon arise major loopholes which leads us back o traditional medicinal modes i.e cough syrup capsules shots etc (and honestly who wants that when we have such nifty machines available??)

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