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What is bronchiolitis?
Common illness of the respiratory tract
Caused by an infection that affects the tiny airways, called the bronchioles
Inflammation and mucus build-up in the bronchioles
What causes bronchiolitis?
Viral infections are the most common cause
RSV – Respiratory Syncytial Virus is the name of a specific virus that causes bronchiolitis
What are symptoms of bronchiolitis?
Symptoms are usually more severe in younger children. Older children might only have typical cold symptoms.
Your child may have a bad cough, hard time breathing, or wheezing
Your child may have runny nose or congestion
Your child may have a fever
Your child may want to eat and drink less
Cold: Upper Respiratory Tract Infection
Cold symptoms may include:
Fever (temperature of 100.4 or higher)
Cough (dry or wet sounding)
Congestion
Runny nose
Sneezing
Fussiness
Poor feeding
Bronchiolitis: Lower Respiratory Tract Infection
May include cold symptoms, plus:
Fast breathing
Flaring of the nostrils & head bobbing with breathing
Rhythmic grunting during breathing (see sound clip clip, below)
Belly breathing, tugging between the ribs and/or the lower neck (see video, below)
Wheezing
How is it treated?
Usually, no medications are prescribed.
Using nasal saline drops and suctioning of the nose are helpful
Encourage lots of fluids - smaller, more frequent drinks
Your child’s provider may advise taking your child to the hospital if they are having trouble breathing or trouble staying hydrated
What can help prevent it?
Lots of hand washing
Avoid smoke exposure
Avoid others who are sick
Ensure your child is up to date on vaccines
Avoid sharing food or beverages
When to see your child’s provider:
Your child is showing any signs of trouble breathing
Concerns for dehydration:
Lips and mouth look dry
your child has urinated less than three times in 24 hours
Your child is not producing tears when crying
Your child is getting worse
Your child has fever for 5 days
This publication was adapted from information within American Academy of Pediatrics Patient Education Handouts, Rady Children’s Hospital, and UpToDate.com.
Reviewed by: TT D.O., AR D.O | 08/2023