9 out of 10 people with Asthma don’t use Spacers with Inhalers!!
The cornerstone of treatment for children and adults with asthma is inhalers. Inhalers are very effective due to targeted delivery of the medicine to the airways in the lungs. Hence, despite the small doses of the medicine inhalers provide rapid and sustained relief of symptoms in children with wheezing and asthma. In addition, inhalers have many other advantages like inhalers are multi-dosed, portable and easy to carry and cheaper compared to other modalities of treatment used for managing children with asthma.
What are the problems taking inhalers in children with asthma?
Many patients are not taking their inhalers properly and this is a common reason for poor response to asthma treatment. So, if inhalers are not used correctly, child won’t get the medicine they need.
Most kids are unable to take inhalers properly because of poor coordination between actuating the inhaler and taking a breath. In addition, children may not be able to take a deep breath and hold breath for 10 seconds making it difficult to take inhalers effectively.
What is a spacer device?
A spacer, or holding chamber, is an attachment to the inhaler like a bottle as shown in the image.
What are the types of spacers available?
Spacers are available in different shapes and sizes from various companies. All spacers are effective with minor differences.
What is the benefit of using a spacer device with an inhaler?
When a child uses his or her inhaler without a spacer, then most of the medicine ends up inside the mouth or throat, instead of the lungs. The spacer acts as a holding chamber where the medicine sits as a fine mist that the child can breathe very slowly. Hence, when spacers are used with inhalers most of the medicine reaches to the lungs, where it is actually required. Spacers should always be used with inhalers in all children and adolescents with asthma or wheezing.
How to take inhalers with spacers?
Child can easily hold the mouthpiece of the spacer and breathe easily in the spacer. This would deliver most medicine in the lungs and avoid the deposition of the medicine in the mouth and throat.
For young children or anyone else who can’t breathe in through a spacer, spacers with masks are available which can fit around the nose and mouth of a young child.
