$Unique_ID{PAR00030}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Medical Advice:  Bronchiolitis}
$Subtitle{}
$Author{
Editors of Consumer Guide
Chasnoff, Ira J}
$Subject{Bronchiolitis Nasal congestion Fever appetite Loss Cough Rapid
difficult breathing difficulties Wheezing Irritability Bluish skin dehydration
lung infections inflammation lungs viral infection respiratory virus cyanosis}
$Log{}

Your Child:  A Medical Guide


Bronchiolitis


Quick Reference

     SYMPTOMS
     - Nasal congestion
     - Fever
     - Loss of appetite
     - Cough (mild to severe)
     - Rapid, sometimes difficult breathing
     - Wheezing
     - Irritability
     - Bluish skin

     HOME CARE
     - None.  See your doctor.

     PRECAUTIONS
     - Bronchiolitis can be a serious illness.  See your doctor.
     - Do not give cough medicines to a child who is having difficulty in
       breathing.
     - Give the child extra liquids to prevent dehydration (serious loss of
       body fluids).
     - Dehydration in infants can be dangerous.
     - If your infant frequently has a cough, see your doctor.
     - If your infant has difficulty in breathing, see your doctor.


     Bronchiolitis is an inflammation of the lungs, which is caused by a viral
infection.  Bronchiolitis occurs during the first two years of life, most
often at about age six months.  It is almost always caused by a respiratory
virus.
     The early symptoms are similar to those of bronchitis.  Bronchiolitis may
develop in an infant who has been exposed to an older child or adult with a
cold.  The illness may last for several days.  Infants who are subject to
bronchiolitis may develop asthma in later years.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

     The first symptoms of bronchiolitis are nasal congestion, fever, loss of
appetite, and a mild cough.  These symptoms may then progress to frequent,
severe coughing; rapid, difficult breathing; wheezing (a whistling sound heard
when the child breathes out); irritability; and cyanosis (a bluish
discoloration of the skin).  The child's extra efforts to breathe may cause
flaring of the nostrils, as well as drawing in of the flesh in the spaces
between the ribs and of the abdomen just below the ribs.

HOME CARE

     Do not attempt to treat bronchiolitis on your own.  Diagnosis and
treatment should be handled by your doctor.  See your doctor if your infant
has a frequent cough, even if only for short periods.  See your doctor if your
child has difficulty in breathing other than that caused by nasal congestion.

PRECAUTIONS

  -  Bronchiolitis can be a serious illness.  See your doctor.
  -  Do not give cough medicine to a child with bronchiolitis.  Cough
     medicines may be dangerous to a child who is already having difficulty in
     breathing.
  -  An infant with rapid breathing can suffer dehydration (a serious loss of
     body fluids) because of loss of vapor from the breath.  Dehydration in
     infants can be dangerous.  Give the child extra fluids by mouth.

MEDICAL TREATMENT

     In some areas, bronchiolitis is the most common reason for hospitalizing
infants.  An infant with bronchiolitis may require oxygen or intravenous
fluids.  A chest x-ray examination, nose and throat cultures, and blood
studies may be ordered.  Antibiotics are of no use because they are not
effective in treating viruses.  If a child has repeated attacks of
bronchiolitis, one injection of epinephrine may be given to determine if the
child has an allergy; if the epinephrine relieves the symptoms, it is likely
that the attacks are caused by an allergy.

RELATED TOPICS:  Asthma; Bronchitis; Common cold; Coughs; Dehydration;
Frequent illnesses; Pneumonia; Shortness of breath; Viral infections