The Differences in Nebulizers

A nebulizer is a device used to help treat asthma symptoms and other respiratory problems. Nebulizers are easier to use than inhalers, and they are recommended for young children and people who need to take large doses of medication. They convert a person's medicine into a mist, making it easier for the person to get the medicine into their lungs. Several types of nebulizers exist. Some operate on batteries, and others run on electricity.

Home Nebulizers

• As the term for them implies, home nebulizers can be used in a person's home. They run on electricity, and they are convenient for people who need to take medication for asthma, bronchitis or other respiratory problems frequently, preventing them from having to go to, or stay in, a hospital for treatment. They are larger than portable nebulizers but cost less than portable nebulizers. A home nebulizer may be preferable for someone who does not need to use his nebulizer outside of his home.

Portable Nebulizers

• Portable nebulizers cost more that home nebulizers, but are they are smaller than home nebulizers. Some portable nebulizers are a little bigger than a deck of cards. Each portable nebulizer is small enough for the user to take with her in a purse, briefcase or backpack. This nebulizer style may be convenient for someone who is often on the go and needs to take her medicine away from home. Portable nebulizers use either disposable or rechargeable batteries.

Compressor Nebulizers

• Compressor nebulizers use compressed air to convert medicine to a mist. They make more noise than other kinds of nebulizers, mostly due to the specific motor they use to compress air. Before each use of a compressor nebulizer, the user must mix a saline solution with the medication. Compressor nebulizers cost less than ultrasonic nebulizers. They can be portable, but they are larger than ultrasonic nebulizers. Sometimes compressor nebulizers are called jet nebulizers.

Ultrasonic Nebulizers

• Ultrasonic nebulizers use sound vibrations and electrical currents to turn medicine into a mist. They are the most quiet and smallest type of nebulizer. They also work faster and deliver medicine to the lungs quicker than other types of nebulizers. An advanced kind of ultrasonic nebulizer uses vibrating mesh technology, and it is the fastest type of nebulizer. It is also more expensive than other ultrasonic nebulizers and requires more frequent cleaning because its mesh can clog easily.