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The Asthma Corner
: Asthma medication delivery devices
: Administering diskhaler and diskus devices
Diskhaler:
The diskhaler contains powdered medication in eight "blisters"
on each disk. The disk is loaded on to a rotating wheel that is
placed inside the body of the device.
 
Instructions
- Lift the back of the lid until it points straight up and
down; this pierces the blister of medication. Close back the
lid.
- Ask your child to breathe out emptying his/her lungs.
- Keeping the diskhaler level, place the mouthpiece between
his/her teeth, with lips snug around it, and tongue down out
of the way.
- Ask your child to breathe in quickly and deeply.
- Ask your child to hold his/her breath for a count of 10
seconds if he/she can.
- Repeat the breathe out / breathe in / hold breath sequence
another time or two, until all of the medication has been
breathed in.
Helpful hints
- Keep the diskhaler horizontal while piercing a hole in the
disk in order to prevent the powder from spilling.
- Your child should never exhale into the diskhaler.
- Clean regularly with the brush provided.
- Never cover the air inlet holes found at the base of the
mouthpiece.
- Rinse your child's mouth after each use.
Diskus:
The diskus contains powdered medication in laminated foil strip
with 28 or 60 pre-measured blisters.The dose indicator tells you
how many doses are left in the device.
Instructions
- Open the diskus by holding the outer case in one hand and
putting your thumb of the other hand on the thumb grip and
push as far as possible.
- Slide the lever away as far as it will go until a click
is heard.
- Ask your child to breath out emptying his/her lungs.
- Place the mouthpiece bewteen his/her teeth with the lips
snug around it.
- Ask your child to breath in, as quickly and as deeply as
possible.
- Ask your child to hold his/her breath for a count of 10
seconds.
- To close the diskus, slide the thumb grip backwards as far
as it will go. The lever is automatically reset to its initial
position.
Helpful hints
- Keep the diskus horizontal while you slide the lever.
- Your child should never exhale(or blow) into the diskus.
- If a second dose is needed, close the disakus and repeat
steps 1 to 7.
- Rinse your child's mouth after each use.
- Keep the diskus closed when not in use.
Using inhalers properly is not always easy but can help your child
enjoy successful treatment at home and less frequent trips to
the hospital.
If despite your best efforts with inhaled medications your
child's asthma is not well controlled or worsens, seek medical
attention immediately!
Other Asthma Corner
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The information provided in this site is
designed to be an educational aid only. It is not intended to
replace the advice and care of your child's physician, nor is
it intended to be used for medical diagnosis or treatment. If
you suspect that your child has a medical condition, always
consult a physician.
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