Administering Diskhaler And Diskus Devices

Asthma Medication Delivery Devices

Administering Diskhaler And Diskus Devices

If children can pick up a piece of paper with sucking through a straw, they are old enough to use these devices.


Instructions(Diskhaler)
  1. Lift the back of the lid until it points straight up and down; this pierces the blister of medication. Close back the lid.
  2. Ask your child to breathe out emptying his/her lungs.
  3. Keeping the diskhaler level, place the mouthpiece between his/her teeth, with lips snug around it, and tongue down out of the way.
  4. Ask your child to breathe in quickly and deeply.
  5. Ask your child to hold his/her breath for a count of 10 seconds if he/she can.
  6. 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

  1. 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.
  2. Slide the lever away as far as it will go until a click is heard.
  3. Ask your child to breath out emptying his/her lungs.
  4. Place the mouthpiece between his/her teeth with the lips snug around it.
  5. Ask your child to breath in, as quickly and as deeply as possible.
  6. Ask your child to hold his/her breath for a count of 10 seconds.
  7. 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!

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Pediatrician DR.PAUL Roumeliotis is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. The information provided above 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.