Clinical Care

The complexity of CF care can lead to many questions. Here are a few frequently asked questions.

FAQs

Airway Clearance

When can my child use a “Vest”?

Children need to measure at least 16 inches around their chest to fit into the smallest vest size. They can be measured at clinic, and wear the vest during a trial period to make sure they can tolerate it.

My child won’t sit still for a complete airway clearance session. What can I do?

Getting a child to sit still for 20 to 30 minutes for anything, including airway clearance, is challenging. Try using a video or a favorite TV show to distract your child while performing chest PT. Also, it helps to make this a special time when they can watch TV or a video with Mom or Dad. If getting your child to sit still for an extended amount of time is still an issue, try breaking up the session into smaller ones throughout the day.

 

 

Getting fitted for a vest.

Equipment

View a webcast on nebulizer cleaning.

How do I clean my nebulizer?

DO NOT USE VINEGAR. Vinegar is not strong enough to kill the germs a person with CF might get. Instead, if the manufacturer’s instructions allow, disinfect the nebulizer parts using one of these options:

    • Boiling for 5 minutes
    • Microwaving (in water) for 5 minutes
    • Dishwasher, if the water is hotter than 158° F for 30 minutes
    • Soaking in a solution of 1 part household bleach and 50 parts water for 3 minutes
    • Soaking in 70% isopropyl alcohol for 5 minutes
    • Soaking in 3% hydrogen peroxide for 30 minutes.

Which Nebulizer?

Which nebulizer should to I use for TOBI® and Pulmozyme®?

For TOBI® you should use a PARI LC Plus® nebulizer
For Pulmozyme® you can use either a PARI LC Plus® or a Sidestream® nebulizer.

Pari LC Plus® nebulizer and Bubbles the Fish™ Mask.

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