Definition of Bronchiolitis:
Bronchiolitis is an illness that causes the small airways leading to the lungs - known as bronchioles - to become swollen and filled with mucous, making it difficult to breathe. It is most common in young children.
Bronchiolitis can be caused by several different infections - most commonly by viruses such as RSV, the flu or rhinovirus (the common cold).
Symptoms of Bronchiolitis:
Symptoms of bronchiolitis typically start like the symptoms of the illness that lead to it. For most, this includes:
- Runny nose
- Cough
- Congestion
- Low-grade fever
After a few days, these symptoms worsen with a more severe cough and wheezing.
More severe symptoms include:
- Rapid, shallow breathing
- Rapid heart beat
- Retractions
- Nasal flaring
- Irritability and fatigue
- Dehydration
- Vomiting from coughing
- Cyanosis (skin turning blue)
- Infants may feed poorly or have very little appetite
If your child has any of these severe symptoms, seek medical attention right away.
Treating Severe Bronchiolitis:
A variety of different viruses cause bronchiolitis, so there is no medication that will cure them. Instead, treatment of bronchiolitis involves treating the symptoms.
Sometimes doctors will prescribe medications to help children breathe better. Occasionally children who have severe bronchiolitis need to be hospitalized to ensure they are getting enough oxygen.
Treating Bronchiolitis at Home:
If your child has been diagnosed with bronchiolitis but is not having significant difficulty breathing, there are things you can do at home to help him feel better.
- Be sure he is getting enough fluids. Although he may not be as hungry as usual, offer fluids frequently so he does not get dehydrated.
- Run a cool mist humidifier to make breathing easier.
- Use saline drops and nasal suction to clear congestion from the nose.
- Monitor for signs of difficulty breathing.
Preventing Bronchiolitis:
There is no vaccine to prevent bronchiolitis. The best way to prevent bronchiolitis is to prevent the illnesses that cause it. Good hand washing is important and be sure to keep young infants away from people who are sick.
There are shots available to children who are very premature or those that are at high risk for RSV. However, they only help prevent infections from RSV, not the other viruses that may lead to bronchiolitis.
Source:
"Bronchiolitis." Lung & Respiratory Infections Nov 10. Kids Health. Nemours Foundation. 26 Jan 11.
