Providing Care For Asthmatic Infants

Infants in the age group of two and below are also susceptible to asthma. But how can you tell whether your little infant has asthma. It is important to diagnose asthma at an early age and start corrective treatment else chances of it becoming a chronic disease are very high. Unfortunately the symptoms of infant asthma are so subtle that detecting it can be difficult. However, the advance in medicine is allowing doctors to diagnose asthma plus the fact that they also consider the family history makes diagnosis a possible task.

Parents need to monitor for signs of asthma and be on the alert. Symptoms in infants are common to that found in adults including wheezing, coughing, chest tightness and shortness of breath. Additionally infants may also have other symptoms such as poor feeding and sweating. Once an infant has been diagnosed with asthma a doctor prescribes a course of treatment that includes medications to open airways and decrease inflammation.

Doctors may also recommend using an infant nebulizer that brings immediate relief. This acts within minutes and the effects last several hours. A nebulizer is a medical device that converts liquid medication into a fine mist, which is inhaled into the lungs. The treatment can be done in the hospital or at home. It is often used for medications prescribed to treat asthma, bronchitis or other respiratory ailments. With the right equipment, giving a nebulizer treatment to a baby can be simple.

You might also be interested in reading about a small volume nebulizer.

Treat Asthma In Infants With An Infant Nebulizer

Nebulizer is often prescribed as the best and most effective treatment method for kids suffering from chronic respiratory conditions. An infant nebulizer is the only way by which you can get the medication into the obstructed airway and clear it of mucous. Using an infant nebulizer with a face mask, is the method through which this medication is used. You can buy a mouthpiece too but using the facemask is the most effective method because the medicine will get into lungs even though the child does not actively participate in the medication process. It is true that the infant nebulizer medication will take some time to complete. But when compared to the metered dose inhaler, this is the best choice. You can engage your infant with his favorite toys and play with him for 10 minutes or so. By then medicine will enter his lungs and he will feel immediate relief. Make sure that he gets maximum benefit from the drug. Once you administer the medication wash the infant’s mouth thoroughly because any residue of the medicine should not be left behind in the mouth. It could lead to mouth-related infections.