Asthma in children: Helping a child use a metered-dose inhaler and mask spacer
Introduction
Key points
The medications 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 medication.
- Delivers most of a measured dose of medication directly to your child's lungs.
- Can help keep your child's asthma symptoms under control and may help prevent long-term damage to his or her lungs.
- May prevent or decrease side effects of the medication.
- May let your child use less medicine than is found in a pill but get the same effect.
- May result in the medication working faster than a pill form.
What is a metered-dose inhaler? What is a mask spacer?
Why should my child use a metered-dose inhaler with a mask spacer?
How to help your child use a metered-dose inhaler with a mask spacer
Where to go from here
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| Author: | Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS | Last Updated: March 22, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics Harold S. Nelson, MD - Allergy and Immunology | |
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