Question
My child is 1 year and 5 months old, and the doctor has recommended nebulizer treatment. The child is very resistant to the treatment because of the loud noise and discomfort. We have tried using a humidifier for nebulization after the child falls asleep, but the amount of nebulizer liquid is too small, as it’s only 5 milliliters. Can we add a small amount of pure water to the nebulizer liquid?
Answer
Using a humidifier for nebulization is not feasible and is almost ineffective. We use nebulizers controlled by a central oxygen system or those equipped with an air compressor. The principle of nebulizer treatment is to convert the nebulizer liquid into extremely fine particles so that they can reach deeper parts of the respiratory system through breathing. If the particles are not small enough, most of them will remain in the nasal cavity and trachea, resulting in poor efficacy. Additionally, do not add water to the nebulizer liquid; the correct dosage is 4-6 milliliters, and neither too much nor too little is allowed. These are my suggestions for the question ‘The doctor has recommended nebulizer treatment for a 1-year-old and 5-month-old child.’ I hope this helps you, and wish you health!