Health Awareness blog

     Bronchiolitis is an extremely common lower respiratory tract infection in infants. We can say that every 1 in 10 babies in their first year will develop bronchiolitis. About 20% of cases are severe enough to be admitted to hospital. The rest can be managed at home after been seen by GP at out patient setting.

Most of bronchiolitis cases are viral in origin. Majority occur during winter time.

Causes of Bronchiolitis

• Runny nose
• Mild fever
• Dry cough
• Rapid and distressed breathing
• Wheezing (often heard)
• In severe cases the feeding will be affected and the baby will appeared fatigue and not interested to play

Symptoms of Bronchiolitis If you can see any of these symptoms, you should consult your doctor immediately. Premature babies, babies with congenital heart disease, cystic fibrosis and immune deficiencies are more likely to get severe bronchiolitis. 

• If your baby has respiratory tract symptoms such as fever, cough and runny nose associated with very rapid breathing
• The child might appear very pale and might have difficulty feeding
• The lips of your baby are blue (cyanosed)
• He/she might stop breathing momentarily
• The breathing rate will be rapid with in drawing of  the chest

What treatment is available?  

• Give small but frequent milk feeds
• Let your baby rest in between feeds as much as possible
• Antibiotics and steroids most likely not needed because acute bronchiolitis is purely causes by virus. However, if secondary bacterial pneumonia is suspected, your doctor will prescribe some antibiotics to your child.
• In hospital, your baby may require oxygen and nebulisers
• Intravenous fluid might be given if your babies do not tolerate orally

  In hospital, what investigations will be done by the doctor?  

• Pulse oximetry – to look for severity of your child breathing
• Blood gases – this is more accurate compared to pulse oximetry
• Full blood count
• Chest x-ray – your child lung might become hyperinflated

  What can I expect on discharge from hospital?  

• It is a 5-7 day illness and the cough may persist for 3-4 weeks afterwards, so, don’t be panic if your child still cough after bee discharged
• It is very contagious. Avoid contact with other young infants approximately for 2 weeks afterwards
• Some infants get recurrent wheezing afterwards
• Ban cigarette smoking in the house as this may promote more wheezing

Reference:

1. Oxford handbook of clinical specialist, 5^th edition.
2. Child health fact sheet, Dublin Children Hospital, Ireland.

Tags: Baby Bronchiolitis, breathing, children, health, respiratory, viral

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