Bronchiolitis

Sudden breathing difficulty, usually preceded by a mild common cold and cough, and characterized by the following:

• Wheezing.
• Rapid, shallow breathing (60 to 80 times a minute).
• Retractions (see-saw movements) of the chest and abdomen.
• Fever (occasionally).
• Dehydration.
• Blue skin or nails (severe cases).

• Viral infection, usually respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
• Some young children develop this disorder after every cold.
• Bronchiolitis is contagious and often becomes epidemic.

• Illness that has lowered resistance, especially respiratory infection.
• Family history of allergies.
• Day care environment.
• Contact with an infected person.

• Use a cool-mist humidifier in the child's room. Use it every night during and after a respiratory infection for a child who is subject to bronchiolitis.
• Observe and avoid any activities that seem to trigger attacks in the child, such as active play in cool night air.
• Decrease the child's exposure to groups of people, especially other children, to avoid colds.

Usually curable in 7 days with treatment. Some studies indicate that infants who have 2 or more episodes of bronchiolitis before age 2 are more likely to develop allergies and asthma.

Rarely, permanent lung damage leading to chronic bronchitis, collapse of a small portion of the lung,bronchiectasis, repeated pneumonia, and rarely, obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

• Keep the humidity in the child's room as high as possible, preferably with an ultrasonic cool-mist humidifier. Clean humidifier daily. If you don't have a humidifier, run cold or hot water in the shower with windows and doors closed to produce a high-humidity room. Hold the child in this room for 20 minutes several times a day, especially at bedtime. If the child awakens at night with wheezing or shortness of breath, repeat the process.
• Breathing cool outside air may help.
• Hospitalization for intensive care and oxygen (severe cases).

• You or a family member has symptoms of bronchiolitis.
• Symptoms don't improve in 4 hours, despite treatment.
• Temperature (rectal) rises to 101° F (38.3° C) or higher.
• Breathing becomes more difficult.
• A cough begins that produces colored phlegm.
• The skin, lips or nails turn dark blue.
• The child becomes lethargic.