Most asthma medicines need to reach the lungs to work. There are four devices a person can use to take asthma medicine. Each device delivers just the right dose of medicine.

It’s important to know how to use the asthma medicines the right way. You can ask your nurse, doctor or pharmacist to show you how.

Metered Dose Inhaler

A metered dose inhaler (MDI), also called a pump or puffer, holds medicine in a small can. Each time you press it, the medicine comes out as a fine mist that your child inhales into their lungs.

To work best, an MDI should be used with a spacer. A spacer slows down the mist so more medicine reaches the lungs instead of the mouth or throat. Young kids may need a spacer and a mask to help them inhale the medicine easier.

Dry Powder Inhaler

A dry powder inhaler (DPI) holds powdered medicine. To get the medicine into the lungs, your child must breathe in deep and fast. They should not use a spacer when taking this medicine.

Respimat Soft Mist Inhaler

A soft mist inhaler (SMI) holds water-based medicines in a small can. When you press it, the medicine comes out as a slow mist that looks like a cloud. It doesn’t use extra chemicals to help push the medicine into the lungs and doesn't use a spacer.

Nebulizer

A nebulizer is a machine that turns liquid medicine into a mist. Your child can breathe in the mist through a mask or mouthpiece. Babies, young kids or those with severe asthma who can’t use an inhaler often use a nebulizer.

The medicine helps by:

• Loosening mucus in the lungs so it’s easier to cough out
• Relaxing the airways so your child can breathe more easily

Treatments usually take 15 to 20 minutes.

For questions or to schedule a visit, please call (877) 607-5280.

Before

Before your child’s visit:

• We may ask you to fill out health forms.
• Prepare a list of symptoms, triggers and any recent asthma attacks.
• Bring any asthma medicines your child uses, including inhalers, spacers or nebulizers.

During

When we meet with you and your child:

• The care team will ask about symptoms and review your child’s health history.
• Your child may take breathing tests to check how well their lungs are working.
• We’ll create or update an asthma action plan.
• We’ll review each asthma device your child uses or will begin to use and show you how to use it the right way.

After

To keep asthma under control:

• Follow the asthma action plan and use devices as instructed.
• Watch for symptoms and note if anything changes.
• Schedule follow-up visits to check progress.
• If symptoms get worse or your child has trouble breathing, call their doctor or go to urgent care right away.

There is no cure for asthma, but with the help of an asthma team, asthma can be under control.

When asthma is in control, your child:

• Has few or no symptoms during the day or night
• Can play and go to school without limits
• Has fewer attacks or flares
• Has a decreased need for quick-relief medicine
• Has no emergency department or hospital visits for asthma

To ensure asthma is in control, your child should not need quick-relief medicines:

• More than two times a week during the day
• More than two times a month during the night
• To be refilled more than two times a year

Your child may need quick-relief medicine more during an illness or before exercise.

Our asthma experts help kids get the care and treatment they need. We help them breathe better and live healthier lives.

Award-winning care: U.S. News & World Report ranked pulmonary care at Children's Wisconsin among the best in the nation. Asthma care is a type of pulmonary care.

Family-centered care: The Children's Wisconsin team is the only one of its kind. We offer care at our combined campus with Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin. That means we diagnose and treat both adults and kids, which can be helpful for families.

Specialized services: We provide unique programs and treatments for patients with complex conditions. These include our Primary Immunodeficiency Program, Asthma Plus Program and Clinical Nutrition.