Inhalation for sinusitis with a nebulizer

Maxillary sinusitis is a serious disease that can only be cured in a comprehensive manner using various medications (general and local), as well as procedures aimed at relieving symptoms and improving the patient's condition. An effective method is the treatment of sinusitis with inhalation, usually at home with steam. However, in recent years, a special device, a nebulizer, has been increasingly used for treatment. Next, we will consider why inhalation with sinusitis with a nebulizer is so effective.

Nebulizer device and the benefits of using it

The name "nebulizer" is derived from the Latin "nebula" which means "cloud". Accordingly, the function of the apparatus is to transform medicinal substances into a fine suspension for maximum penetration into the affected respiratory organs.

A nebulizer is a special device for inhalation, the main principle of which is the finely dispersed spraying of medicinal solutions through a special nozzle consisting of a mask and a breathing tube. Spraying is carried out in a chamber located inside the device body.

The smallest particles of medicinal substances evenly cover the mucous membranes of the nasal cavity, providing a pronounced vasoconstrictor and anti-inflammatory effect, and are also able to penetrate directly into the paranasal sinuses.

Depending on the principle of operation and technical characteristics, nebulizers are divided into 3 types:

Ultrasonic. They form a cloud of suspension by ultrasonic waves, which are created by a membrane in a container with a solution. The advantage is quiet operation, the disadvantage is the inability to work with some drugs that are destroyed under the influence of ultrasound.
Mesh nebulizers. These are advanced ultrasound devices, where ultrasound is created by a special mesh that does not affect the drug substance. Advantage - you can adjust the size of the sprayed particles.
Compressor rooms. Spray drug solutions using a stream of air. The advantage is that any solution is suitable. The disadvantage is the noise from the compressor.

A nebulizer for sinusitis has a number of advantages over other methods of taking medications:

Safety. Unlike steam inhalation, the patient can breathe unheated medicine, which avoids burns of the mucous membrane.
High-speed performance. Small aerosol particles are instantly delivered to the infected area of the respiratory tract and, settling on the epithelial layer, immediately begin to act.
Preservation of all the useful properties of drugs. Spraying is carried out without heating the substance, which protects it from decay and loss of some of its useful qualities.
Fewer side effects. The active ingredient of the tablet, before entering the air cavity, passes through the entire gastrointestinal tract and circulatory system, spreading its effect to all tissues. When inhaled, the agent acts where it is needed, poorly absorbed into the blood.
The ability to use it for patients of any age, including children and the elderly.

Solutions used for inhalation

For the treatment of sinusitis with an inhaler, several groups of drugs are used that are designed for specific purposes:

Saline solutions such as 1% sodium chloride solution. Used to moisturize, heal and cleanse the mucous membranes of the nasal cavity. The procedure lasts from 5 minutes for children to 20 minutes for adults.
Alkaline solutions. Contribute to the dilution of the exudate, which facilitates its evacuation from the accessory pockets. Usually they use medicinal-table or medicinal mineral water, such as "Borjomi" or "Essentuki". They are also good for preventive purposes. Due to their safety, they can be used to treat children from an early age.
Antibiotics destroy the causative agent of the disease and stop the inflammatory process. Bioparox, Isofra, Dioxidin, Ceftriaxone, Gentamicin are widely used.
Mucolytics. To reduce the viscosity of sputum and cleanse the nasal passages, drugs with acetylcysteic acid (ACC, Fluimucil) and ambroxol (Ambroxol, Lazolvan) help well.
Vasoconstrictors help to eliminate a runny nose and normalize nasal breathing. Use adrenaline, naphthyzine, xylemetazoline, oxymetazoline.
Immunomodulators. Effective at the initial stage of sinusitis caused by the activity of viruses. They are also used to restore the body's defenses after antibiotic treatment and to prevent viral infections. At the pharmacy, you can buy Interferon or Derinat.
Antiseptics fight pathogens and cleanse mucosal surfaces. They are applied without solvent. The most popular are Miramistin, Furacilin, Chlorophyllipt.
Anti-inflammatory drugs. Hormonal drugs - glucocorticosteroids (Cromohexal, Dexamethasone) and phytopreparations (Rotokan, Malavit, Propolis, calendula and eucalyptus tinctures) have proven themselves well.

However, not all medicines are suitable for inhalation with a nebulizer. They are not used for this purpose for various reasons:

Herbal decoctions with suspensions contain too large particles that can damage the device.
Medicinal plant juices may lose their effectiveness.
Oil solutions can damage the device.
Medicines that do not affect the respiratory tract (Papaverine, Eufillin, etc.) are useless with this method of application.

Consider some popular recipes for solutions for use in a nebulizer:

Isofra, Polydexa or Bioparox - one injection from a vial of 3 ml of saline. Use 3 times a day for a week.
Dioxidine. When buying this medication, you need to be very careful, as it is sold in different concentrations (0.5% and 1%). Dioxidine 0.5% is diluted with saline in a 1: 2 ratio, and 1% - in a 1: 4 ratio. You can use no more than 4 ml of the mixture at a time. It is undesirable to use for the treatment of young children.
Ceftriaxone powder is dissolved in water for injection (1 ml of antibiotic per 5 ml of water) and mixed well. The duration of the procedure is from 5 minutes for children and more.
Interferon powder is dissolved in 2 ml of boiled warm water. It is used for the prevention of respiratory viral diseases in children.
Naphtizin. At a concentration of 0.05% it is diluted in a ratio of 1: 5, and at a concentration of 0.1% - 1:10. A child needs 3 ml of the product for one inhalation.
Adrenaline is applied without dilution. For children up to two years of age, 0.25 ml is enough, for older patients - 0.5 ml.

Diluted preparations can be stored in the refrigerator for no more than a day, so they should not be prepared for future use.

The procedure for inhalation with a nebulizer

When carrying out the procedure at home, you must first prepare the device for use. According to the instructions in the instructions, with clean hands, the device is assembled and connected to the mains. Then the tightness of the medicine reservoir is checked by pouring a small amount of clean water into it. The face mask is pre-adjusted to the size of the patient's head.

The medicinal solution for the procedure is prepared as follows: the agent recommended by the attending physician is poured in the required amount into the reservoir and sterile water for injection or saline solution is added (usually from 2 to 5 ml, depending on the drug and the patient's age).

The funds stored in the refrigerator are pre-heated in a water bath or in the hand to room temperature.

Inhalation can be carried out no earlier than an hour and a half after eating. Nasal breathing should be free for a good passage of the aerosol, therefore, in case of nasal congestion, it is better to use vasoconstrictor drops or spray 10 minutes before the start.

This will also be facilitated by a cup of warm tea shortly before manipulation.

It is advisable for the patient not to smoke for at least an hour before the start of the procedure. You also need to make sure that the patient's body temperature does not exceed 37.5 degrees.

Directly the procedure for inhalation with a nebulizer is performed in this way:

The patient puts on loose clothing that squeezes nowhere and does not restrict movement, carefully blows his nose and sits on a chair.
Then he applies a mask with an attached breathing tube to the face, begins to inhale and exhale deeply and slowly through the nose. If a cough starts from exposure to suspended particles, then you need to wait a little and continue breathing. The duration of the procedure can vary from 5 to 20 minutes, depending on the age of the patient and the medication taken.
After graduation, the patient rinses his mouth and washes (if hormonal agents were used) or wipes his face with a cotton towel. Then it is advisable to lie down for 10-15 minutes. To avoid temperature changes, it is not recommended to go outside immediately after inhalation.

If, while inhaling the aerosol, a person develops dizziness, then you need to pause the process for 10 minutes, and then continue.

If this symptom recurs, the manipulation should be interrupted and the attending physician should be consulted about the negative manifestations. Do not use inhalation drugs that, after the end of the procedure, cause allergic reactions and irritation in the respiratory system. This may be the reason for the refusal of this form of therapy or the selection of funds with another active substance.

In general, the use of fine aerosols of medicinal substances, according to many otolaryngologists, has proven itself on the positive side. It is able to effectively and quickly eliminate such unpleasant symptoms as nasal congestion, difficulty in nasal breathing, a feeling of pressure in the accessory pockets, and disturbed sleep at night.

However, this procedure, despite its undoubted benefit, can only have an auxiliary function. The main role in the treatment of sinusitis belongs to antibiotic therapy, which allows you to destroy the causative agent of the disease.