Bronchiolitis
GENERAL INFORMATION:
What is it? Bronchiolitis (bron-kee-o-li-tis) is an infection of the lower lung airways (tubes). The airways swell, making it harder to breathe. Mucus (fluid) and dead tissue also collect in these airways. Bronchiolitis is most common during the fall, winter, and early spring. It is most common in children under 2 years old. Bronchiolitis can become serious if a child is premature or has a weak immune system (hard to fight infections). Or, if a child has certain heart or lung problems.
Causes: The respiratory (res-per-uh-tor-e) syncytial (sin-sih-shull) virus (RSV) is usually the cause of bronchiolitis. Ask your caregiver for the CareNotes™ handout on RSV to learn more about RSV. Other viruses can also cause this infection. The infection is easily spread from person to person. Secretions from the nose or mouth of an infected person can be passed to a noninfected person. The virus causing the bronchiolitis can live on objects such as tables, cribs, and toys.
Signs and Symptoms:
- Bronchiolitis begins like a common cold. Your child may have sneezing, a runny nose, a mild cough, and a fever. The coughing may become worse after 1 to 2 days and your child may start to have breathing problems. Your child may begin breathing faster and have wheezing. The wheezing is a high-pitched noise heard when your child breathes out. Your child may also have retractions (ree-trak-shuns). This is the pulling in of the skin between the ribs and around the neck with each breath. This means your child is having a very hard time getting air into the lungs.
- The nostrils (openings) of your child's nose may open more than normal in order to get more air. Your child may not want to eat or drink. It is hard for your child to eat or drink while breathing fast. Your child may be dehydrated (not enough fluids in the body), fussy and very tired. Your child's lips and nails may be bluish in color. This means there is not enough oxygen getting into your child's lungs and blood.
Care: If the infection is severe, your child may need to stay in the hospital. Trouble breathing, dehydration, high fever, and the need for oxygen or medicine are reasons to stay in the hospital. Antibiotic medicine will not help if a virus such as RSV caused the bronchiolitis. Oxygen and breathing medicine may be used to help your child's breathing problems. Medicine may be used if your child has a fever. Your child may need more fluids to help with dehydration. If your child is having trouble eating or drinking, an IV may be needed to give extra fluids. Children are usually better in 7-10 days, but it can sometimes take longer.
CARE AGREEMENT:
You have the right to help plan your child's care. To help with this plan, you must learn about your child's health condition and how it may be treated. You can then discuss treatment options with your child's caregivers. Work with them to decide what care may be used to treat your child.
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