Which device converts liquid medication into a fine mist for inhalation?

• A. Metered Dose Inhaler
• B. Non-Rebreather
• C. Nebulizer
• D. Nasal Cannula

Answer: (C)

Turning a liquid medication into a breathable aerosol for deep lung delivery is achieved with a nebulizer. A nebulizer converts liquid medicine into a fine mist that a patient can inhale through a mouthpiece or mask, typically over several minutes. This makes it especially useful for patients who have difficulty using inhalers or who need a continuous, lower-dose delivery. The mist is created by either a jet of compressed air or ultrasonic energy, producing particles small enough to reach the lower airways.

A metered-dose inhaler, while it aerosolizes medication, delivers a single or few puffs of spray with each actuated dose and requires good coordination to inhale at the right moment. It’s not designed to create a continuous fine mist like a nebulizer. The non-rebreather mask and the nasal cannula deliver oxygen, not aerosolized medications, so they don’t turn a liquid into a mist for inhalation.