Inhalations for fever: the main indications, rules and types

You ask whether inhalations are done at a temperature? Doctors answer: regular steam inhalations can be done if the body temperature does not exceed +37.5°C.

If the temperature is higher than this indicator, then you need to do inhalations using medical spray devices - an inhaler or nebulizer.

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Indications for inhalation at temperature

Since in the process of local treatment with the help of inhalations, the beneficial substances and healing components of medicinal plants get directly to the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract, the list of indications for inhalation at a temperature includes:

• acute respiratory disease (cold);
• rhinitis (with swelling and difficulty breathing through the nose).
• tonsillitis (except purulent);
• sinusitis and rhinosinusitis;
• pharyngitis;
• tracheitis;
• laryngitis and laryngotracheitis;
• acute bronchitis;
• pneumonia.

In clinical otolaryngology, steam inhalations at a temperature are recognized as an effective way to relieve swelling of the mucous membrane, reduce the intensity of the inflammatory process in the nasopharynx, reduce hypersecretion of mucus in the trachea and bronchi, make sputum less thick and thereby facilitate its coughing up.

Inhalations are not used in cases of aspiration bronchitis; pneumocystis, chlamydial, cytomegalovirus and hemaphilus pneumonia; purulent pleurisy and air accumulation in the pleural cavity (pneumothorax). Inhalations are also contraindicated - regardless of the presence or absence of elevated temperature - in pulmonary hemorrhages, airway obstruction, severe forms of heart failure and myocardial rhythm disorders. Inhalation therapy with hot steam is not recommended for high blood pressure.

How to perform inhalations when you have a fever?

If you have an inhaler or nebulizer at home, you will naturally use them. Although it should be borne in mind that these devices are not recommended for inhalation with essential oils, as well as with solutions that may contain any insoluble particles, for example, with decoctions of medicinal plants.

A generation-tested method of inhalation for runny nose and cough: a container with freshly boiled potatoes "in their skins" (drain the water) and a towel to cover your head with to breathe in the healing steam. And the steam really does help with inflammation of the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract: potatoes, due to the content of metapectic acid, have an alkaline reaction, and warm steam carries these alkalis to the inflamed mucous membrane. And alkalis, as is known, help disinfect the mucous membranes of the oral cavity and nasopharynx.

But let's stop at how to conduct inhalations at a temperature in another home way - over the spout of a teapot. To do this, freshly prepared hot herbal decoction or another solution for inhalation is poured into the teapot, covered with a lid, and a cone made of cardboard or thick paper is put on the spout. Note that its lower opening should be slightly larger in size than the diameter of the spout (so that it is inside the cone), and the upper part of the improvised funnel covers the nose and mouth.

In case of a sore throat and cough, the steam should be inhaled through the mouth and exhaled through the nose. In case of a runny nose and stuffy nose - vice versa. The duration of one procedure for adults is 10 minutes, it should be done two or three times a day. For children, warm-moist inhalation (with an inhalation solution temperature of +40°C) is carried out for no more than three minutes. Both children and adults should carry out the procedure no earlier than an hour after eating, and after inhalation, you should not eat or talk for 40-45 minutes.

Types of inhalations for fever

Specific types of inhalations for fever depend on the symptoms of the diseases requiring the use of this therapeutic method, as well as on the composition of the solution, the steam of which most effectively copes with the manifestations of the disease.

A positive effect in case of a runny nose and cough is provided by inhalations at a temperature of a solution of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda). To prepare a soda solution, two tablespoons of soda must be poured into two glasses of water heated to at least +60°C. At this temperature, sodium bicarbonate disintegrates to form sodium carbonate, which is immediately hydrolyzed, providing an alkaline reaction to the inhaled steam.

Medicinal plants that produce phytoncides - biologically active substances with bactericidal properties - are widely used for inhalations. First of all, these are eucalyptus, rosemary, birch, oak leaves; pine, fir and juniper needles; chamomile, sage, thyme.

Inhalation with eucalyptus leaf infusion - a tablespoon per 200 ml of boiling water (infuse for half an hour) - well liquefies phlegm when coughing. The leaves can be replaced with eucalyptus essential oil (3-4 drops per glass of water).

Chamomile decoction (two tablespoons of dried flowers per 250 ml of water) is used for inhalation for redness, pain and irritation in the throat: chamazulene contained in this plant has anti-inflammatory and local anesthetic properties. Due to the thymol content in thyme, inhalations with its infusion (a tablespoon per glass of boiling water) help no worse than expectorant mixtures for coughs.

Also useful for coughs and inflammatory diseases of the upper respiratory tract are inhalations at a temperature using pine buds, fir or juniper oil, which are rich in especially powerful phytoncides - terpenoids (pinene, limonene, etc.). A decoction of pine buds is prepared at the rate of three tablespoons per 0.5 liters of water, boiled over low heat for about 15 minutes, and then the container should be tightly closed and infused for this time. And essential oils (no more than 4 drops per 200 ml of water) for the best effect should be dripped into a spoon with a pinch of salt, and then the salt and oils should be stirred in water brought almost to a boil.

Despite the simplicity of the procedure, there may be complications with inhalations at a temperature. For example, if the steam was too hot, you can get a burn of the mucous membrane of the larynx. In addition, frequent or prolonged inhalations can cause an increase in the production of mucous secretions in tracheitis and bronchitis, which threatens obstruction of the respiratory tract and even acute respiratory failure.

When inhaling at a temperature, remember that from benefit to harm, as from the great to the ridiculous, there can be only one step. Therefore, be careful and do everything according to the rules.