Bronchiolitis is inflammation of the tiniest airways of the lungsthebronchioles.
It typically affects infants and children under 2 and is almost always sparked by a respiratory virus.
Bronchiolitis can usually be diagnosed based on the symptoms, which include cough, wheezing, and mild fever.
Laura Porter / Verywell
There are no specific treatments for bronchiolitis, although hospitalization with oxygen therapy may be needed for severe cases.
Most cases of bronchiolitis are self-limiting and do not cause long-term harm or injury.
Rapid breathing and nasal flaring are other tell-tale signs.
Verywell / Gary Ferster
Rapid tests are available to detect specific viruses.
Chest X-rays may be ordered but also have their limitations.
It is not uncommon for children with bronchiolitis to develop a secondary bacterial infection.
Because cases of UTI can be treated, aurinalysismay be ordered to check for this.
Otitis media can often be diagnosed with a visual examination of the ear.
Differential Diagnoses
Wheezing and coughing in children can be triggered by any number of things.
These may include:
Treatment
The treatment of bronchiolitis is mainly supportive.
Mild to moderate bronchiolitis tends to resolve fully within two to three weeks without treatment.
Most guidelines recommend bed rest with sufficient fluids and nutrition.
It’s also important to keep a child with bronchiolitis away from smoke.
Prevention
There is no vaccine currently available to prevent cold viruses or parainfluenza viruses.
There are two ways to prevent RSV in infants.
Pregnant people can receive an RSV vaccine between weeks 32 and 36 to protect their babies after birth.
Or, infants may be immunized with a protective antibody before or during RSV season.
There are three vaccine options to prevent severe RSV disease in adults, each given as a one-time shot.
In some cases, wheezing may be a sign of a more serious condition, such as pneumonia.
ymar K, Skjerven HO, Mikalsen IB.Acute bronchiolitis in infants, a review.Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med.
2014;22:23. doi:10.1186/1757-7241-22-23
Erickson EN, Bhakta RT, Mendez MD.Pediatric bronchiolitis.
2014 Nov;19(9):485-98. doi: 10.1093/pch/19.9.485.
2011(1):CD006435.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.RSV in Infants and Young Children.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Vaccines for Adults Ages 60 and Over.
