1. Home
  2. Health
  3. Asthma

How to Use an MDI With a Mask

by Kathleen MacNaughton, R.N.
for About.com

Updated: December 5, 2006

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by the Medical Review Board

1 of 8

Get to Know Your Child's Metered Dose Inhaler and Mask

MDI parts, photo courtesy of A.D.A.M.

Parts of a Metered Dose Inhaler

A.D.A.M.
It's essential that you know how to use your metered dose inhaler correctly. If you don't practice the correct technique, then you could end up not getting your full dose of medicine. When that happens, you might notice your asthma control is not where it should be. The steps in this tutorial will help you get the most out of your metered dose inhaler.

Break It Down

First, you need to understand the different parts of your child's metered dose inhaler. Depending on the type of medicine your doctor has prescribed for your child, your inhaler may or may not look exactly like the one pictured on the pages of this tutorial. However, all metered dose inhalers contain these main parts:

  • Metal canister that contains your medicine
  • Plastic tube called a mouthpiece
  • Plastic cap that fits over the end of the mouthpiece

The canister has a pointy tip that fits into a hole in the mouthpiece. When you press down on the end of the canister, it's like pushing down on the tip of a spray can. Medicine sprays out through the mouthpiece.

To make administering the inhaler more accurate with a child, many doctors will also recommend a mask spacer. This is a plastic device that looks something like an oxygen mask. It fits snugly over your child's mouth and nose.

Explore Asthma
About.com Special Features

Learn how you can reduce your your numbers with these nutrition and exercise tips. More >

Keep yourself, and your family, happy and healthy this fall with these tips. More >

We comply with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here.
  1. Home
  2. Health
  3. Asthma
  4. Control & Prevention
  5. Asthma Treatment
  6. Metered Dose Inhalers
  7. How to Use an MDI With a Mask - Metered Dose Inhalers for Kids

©2009 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.