Inhaler facts for kids
An inhaler or puffer is a special medical tool. It helps deliver medicine directly into your body through your lungs. Inhalers are mostly used to treat breathing problems like asthma and COPD. These conditions make it hard to breathe.
How Inhalers Work
Most inhalers hold medicine in a special can under pressure. This can is attached to a plastic part you hold and press. One common type is called a metered-dose inhaler (MDI). When you press it, it releases a set amount of medicine as a fine mist, like a spray.
To use an MDI correctly:
- First, breathe all the way out.
- Put the mouthpiece of the inhaler into your mouth.
- As you start to breathe in slowly, press the can to release the medicine.
- Keep breathing in deeply to pull the medicine into your lungs.
- Hold your breath for about 10 seconds. This helps your body absorb the medicine into the walls of your airways.
Sometimes, people use a spacer with their inhaler. A spacer is a plastic tube that attaches to the inhaler. It mixes the medicine with air inside the tube. This makes it easier to breathe in all the medicine, especially for kids or people who find it hard to use an inhaler perfectly.
Images for kids
-
Different types of dry powder inhalers
-
Nebulizer with a face mask
-
An old Penetro brand inhaler from Mexico
-
An inhaler designed by John Mudge in 1778
-
A mouthpiece for an inhaler designed by Dr Beigel in 1867
.png)
See also
In Spanish: Inhalador para niños
