A nebulizer is a device used to deliver liquid medicine in the form of a fine mist (aerosol). Medicine may be given through a nebulizer to treat respiratory problems, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or pneumonia.
The nebulizer allows the medicine to go directly to a person's airways and lungs. And the medicine can be given over a long period of time. The person inhales the medicine while breathing normally through a mouthpiece or face mask. A nebulizer makes inhaling medicine easier for people who are having serious difficulty breathing or who have trouble using an inhaler. An inhaler requires careful timing and control of one's breathing.