DNase nebuliser 💉

Arlo started a DNase nebuliser on his second day in hospital. He’s never had a nebuliser before so this is all new to both me and him!

A nebuliser changes liquid medication into a mist so that it can be breathed into the lungs. The benefit of these is that the medicine can go straight into the lungs where it is needed (rather than travelling all around the body). Some medications for lung infections are actually only available as nebulised medication. And compared to inhalers, much larger doses can be given.

DNase is a once daily nebulised ‘recombinant human deoxyribonuclease’ (aka rhDNase; dornase alfa; Pulmozyme). Bit of a tongue twister eh?! 👅

It is the most widely used mucoactive therapy in patients with CF. It reduces the viscoelasticity (read stickiness/thickness) of mucus in the lungs and therefore helps with the clearance of secretions from the lungs.

Arlo’s nebuliser currently lasts less than 5 minutes and he’s not a fan at all so far! I am hoping that compliance will get better soon! He was actually really chilled this morning but sadly I think that was fluke and/or tiredness as opposed to a shift in acceptance! 🙈

Arlo’s paediatrician is hopeful that when we go home with this nebuliser, it will be one of the key things to keeping him from getting a long term infection again.

I’m all for that and wish we had got one sooner!!