Aerochamber with mouthpiece

(aerosol spray inhaler with holding chamber)    

Your child has been prescribed a drug to treat problems in its airways. This drug must be inhaled so that it reaches the lungs directly and can start working as quickly as possible. Every puff released into the holding chamber consists of a fine spray with tiny particles of the drug. These particles remain in the holding chamber ready for inhalation. The following section gives instructions for you to help your child use the inhaler.  

If in doubt, make an appointment at the inhalation clinic: 070 - 312 41 16.  

1. Shake the inhaler canister 10 times before removing the safety cap (see picture).



2. Fit the inhaler canister into the opening on the back of the aerochamber. Make sure that the inhaler is pointing upwards (see picture).


3. Remove the cap from the mouthpiece.  

4. Ensure that your child is sitting or standing up straight.  

5. Insert the mouthpiece of the holding chamber between your child’s teeth and tell it to close its lips around the mouthpiece.    

6. Make sure that the holding chamber remains horizontal and depress the inhaler to release the drug into the chamber (picture).


Let your child take 5 to 10 slow, deep breaths.  

The drug will have been inhaled after about 20 seconds. If you hear a whistling sound while your child is inhaling, tell it to breathe in and out more slowly.  

7. Take the mouthpiece out of your child’s mouth.  

8. If your child has been prescribed more puffs, remove the inhaler from the holding chamber, shake it again vigorously and repeat steps 5 to 7.  

9. Remove the inhaler canister from the holding chamber and replace the safety cap.  

10. Replace the cap on the mouthpiece of the holding chamber.  

To prevent infections of the mouth and throat, it is very important to give your child something to eat or drink after inhaling the anti-inflammatory drug!  

Points for special attention

• Check the ‘use by’ date on the inhaler regularly.
• If your child is short of breath, you must make it inhale the blue bronchodilator (to dilate the airways) first, and then the anti-inflammatory.
• Store the inhaler in a cool, dry place, and not in the fridge, bathroom or in direct sunlight.  

• The number of doses contained in the inhaler is stated on the outside of the canister. You can use the number of doses in the canister and the number of puffs your child has been prescribed to calculate the date on which the inhaler will be empty. You can only do this if your child uses the inhaler regularly.
• Hold the inhaler close to a mirror and spray onto it. If you see a white mist on the mirror (that remains for a minute or two), the canister still contains some of the drug.  

Cleaning
Inhaler
The plastic holder should be cleaned as follows at least once a week:

1. Remove the aerosol from the holder and take off the safety cap.
2. Rinse the holder under the warm running tapwater.
3. Leave it to dry or dry it with a clean tea towel.
4. Put the aerosol back into the holder and replace the safety cap.
5. The aerosol may not come into contact with water.  

Holding chamber
Clean the mouthpiece every day using a tissue or damp cloth.
You only need to clean the holding chamber once a week as follows:

1. Remove the part of the holding chamber with the opening for the inhaler canister, and clean both parts in water with a little detergent.
2. Do not use a brush or scouring pad.Do not rinse or dry these parts; just leave them on a tea towel to dry. This prevents the holding chamber from becoming static (plastic), which would make the drug particles stick to the inside surfaces.

Edition: June 2010/210