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Inhaled medications are an important part of asthma treatment. The most common
way to take inhaled medications is the metered dose inhaler or MDI
but some children who are 12 years or older
may use a dry powder inhaler the. The advantage to using a dry powder inhaler
is that it is breath
activated so you don't have to coordinate spraying the medicine
while at the same time inhaling the medicine. Instead you simply breathe in
quickly
to activate the flow of medication. Is your child using his or her dry powder
inhaler correctly?
Take a moment to view the following examples that show good technique.
First, have your child stand up straight
then release a dozen medicine into the inhaler chamber
according to the instructions for your dry powder inhaler or DPI.
Do not release more than one dose at a time. Have your child breathe out first
and then put his or her mouth completely over the inhaler opening.
Your child needs to breathe in the dry powder
quickly and forcefully to automatically activate the proper flow of medication.
Have your child hold his or her breath for 10 seconds.
When he or she is done taking the medicine,
close the inhaler. To help avoid the bad taste,
have your child rinse his mouth or brush her teeth after each use.
If using a corticosteroid medication rinsing also helps prevent a yeast
infection from developing your child's mouth.
Some important things to remember when your child uses a dry powder inhaler.
Be sure not to release more than one dose. After releasing the medicine
be sure your child is not turn the DPI over
since the medicine might fall out. Also
remind your child not to blow into the DPI because the moisture in his or her
breath can clog the mechanism.
If you have any concerns about whether your child is using his or her DPI
correctly,
ask your child's doctor or care manager to check your child's technique