Nebulizer Question - Asthma Message Board

violetsmom13 · 01-02-2008, 07:53 PM

I have been getting conflicting information about cleaning my daughter's nebulizer. We use the Pari LC Plus nebulizer and the manual recommends sterilizing the parts every other day in either boiling water or a distilled white vinegar solution. My daughter's doctor said there was no need to boil the parts and I should simply wash them after each use in hot water and mild dish soap. Should I call the company that manufactures the nebulizer? Thanks!

Gabby2007 · 01-02-2008, 10:53 PM

I've heard of boiling the parts if the person has certain medical issues, like Cystic Fibrosis, where they would need to be super careful of sanitation. But otherwise...my nebulizer instructions call for rinsing in warm soapy water (don't use the dish soap that has lemon in it), then rinse in warm water and drain. Do the vinegar soak at the end of the day. The vinegar is important because it helps keep medication and soap residue from building up...I get generic white vinegar by the gallon for this purpose.

The rep that set you up with the nebulizer - that person might also be a good resource. The gal that brought out my equipment/taught me how to use it explained the cleaning process.

I also have the Pari tubing set up (Incare? Nebulizer); if only they had adult size "animal" nebulizer masks! I've told my dh that breathing treatments might be more tolerable if I could do them wearing the "elephant" mask!

Ratatosk · 01-03-2008, 07:42 AM

DS has CF and I boil his pari nebulizers for 10 minutes after each use. CFers can get pseudomonas and other "bugs" which can exist in tap water, distilled water -- would rather not have anything get into his lungs. He uses the bubbles fish mask, too. And I do believe there are several adults who do so too, because it's much softer feeling on the face than some of the others.

I know some people who use baby bottle sterilizers, germ guardian or breast pump sterilization bags for the microwave to clean their REUSABLE neb cups. If they don't say reusable -- don't boil -- they'll probably melt.