Asthma in Children: Helping a Child Use a Metered-Dose Inhaler and Mask Spacer
Asthma in Children: Helping a Child Use a Metered-Dose Inhaler and Mask SpacerSkip to the navigationIntroductionThe 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.
How to help your child use a metered-dose inhaler with a mask spacerBefore 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.
CreditsByHealthwise Staff
Primary Medical ReviewerJohn Pope, MD - Pediatrics
Specialist Medical ReviewerMartin J. Gabica, MD - Family Medicine Current as ofMarch 25, 2017 Current as of:
March 25, 2017 Last modified on: 8 September 2017
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