aerosol therapy, the use of an aerosol for respiratory care in the treatment of bronchopulmonary disease. Aerosol therapy allows the delivery of medications, humidity, or both to the mucosa of the respiratory tract and pulmonary alveoli. Agents delivered by aerosol therapy may relieve spasm of the bronchial muscles and reduce edema of the mucous membranes, liquefy bronchial secretions so that they are more easily removed, humidify the respiratory tract, and administer antibiotics locally by depositing them in the respiratory tract.
