Bronchiolitis
Date issued: December 2022
Review date: December 2024
Ref: A-515/NB/ED/Bronchiolitis
PDF: Bronchiolitis final December 2022.pdf [pdf] 101KB
What is bronchiolitis?
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It is a lung infection very common in babies under 1 year old
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It is an inflammation of the small tubes of the lung (the bronchioles)
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There may be some difficulty in breathing
What causes it?
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It is usually caused by a virus called Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
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Other viruses can also cause it
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This virus usually causes a cold in most children or adults but because babies’ lungs are smaller the symptoms are different
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It is spread by coughing and sneezing
When does bronchiolitis occur?
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It is most common in the winter months but can be present all year round.
What are the symptoms of bronchiolitis?
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It usually begins as a runny nose, cough and mild fever
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After 2-3 days your child may develop some breathing difficulties
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There may be faster breathing and wheeze
How long will my child be unwell?
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Symptoms gradually improve over two weeks
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Your child may continue to have a cough for several weeks
What other problems will my child have?
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Feeding difficulties, they may have difficulty breathing during feeds and get tired
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Temperature / fever.
What treatment can I do at home?
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Symptoms do not become severe in most cases
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Try giving drinks little and often (e.g., every hour)
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Raise the head end of the cot which may help with breathing
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If your child has a fever and seems to be uncomfortable with it give paracetamol or ibuprofen at the recommended dose on the box.
When do I need to return to the Emergency Department?
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If your baby cannot take their feeds and appears tired
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If your baby's breathing becomes more laboured
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If your baby is less than six weeks old
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If your baby was born prematurely
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If your baby has underlying heart or lung problems
- If you are worried about your child.
Can bronchiolitis be prevented?
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It is impossible to totally avoid this virus
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It may be sensible to keep very young babies away from people with coughs and colds