Seasonal illnesses: aerosol therapy

Aerosol therapy a colloid system in which solid or liquid particles are suspended in a gas, especially a suspension of a drug or othersubstance to be dispensed in a cloud or mist.

aerosol clearance

removal of particles that have been deposited in the respiratory tissues. Clearance may occur byciliary transport, by phagocytosis, by encapsulation and immobilization in a deposit of fibrous tissue (in which case theparticles remain in the body), and by dissolving in tissue fluid and subsequently diffusing into the general circulation wherethe particles are metabolized.

aerosol deposition
the depositing of aerosol particles onto a nearby surface, especially deposition or retention of theparticles within the respiratory system. Closely related to aerosol penetration and affected by the same factors.

aerosol penetration
the maximum distance aerosol particles can be carried into the respiratory tract by inhaled air. Depthof penetration increases as particle size decreases. Factors affecting where aerosol particles will be deposited and howdeeply they can penetrate are: gravity, kinetic activity of gas molecules, inertial impaction, physical nature of the particle,and the ventilatory pattern.

aerosol therapy use of an aerosol for respiratory care in the treatment of bronchopulmonary disease. The major purposeof this is the delivery of medications or humidity or both to the mucosa of the respiratory tract and pulmonary alveoli. Agents delivered by aerosol therapy may act in a number of ways: (1) to relieve spasm of the bronchial muscles andreduce edema of the mucous membranes, (2) to render bronchial secretions more liquid so that they are more easilyremoved, (3) to humidify the respiratory tract, and (4) to administer antibiotics locally by depositing them in the respiratorytract.