Bronchiolitis

Bronchiolitis is a common infection of the lungs that affects babies and young children.

Most cases of bronchiolitis in babies and children are mild and get better after a couple of weeks. In some cases, bronchiolitis can cause swelling of the small airways in the lungs, which can lead to difficulty breathing.

Most cases of bronchiolitis are caused by common cold viruses. One of these is called respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). RSV is a very common virus that most babies will have before they are one year old.

Babies are likely to get RSV in the winter months, between October and March every year.

If your baby was born premature, or has a condition that affects the lungs or heart (such as chronic lung disease or congenital heart disease), they may be more at risk of needing medical treatment for bronchiolitis.

What are the signs and symptoms of bronchiolitis?

The signs and symptoms of bronchiolitis include the following:

• Cold-like symptoms, such as a sore throat, runny nose and mild fever.
• A persistent cough.
• Fast shallow breathing.
• Noisy breathing (wheezing).
• Feeding less well than usual.

There is no medication to treat bronchiolitis, but there are things you can do to help relieve symptoms:

• If your baby has any of the above symptoms at home, make sure that they have extra fluids to avoid dehydration.
• Keep your baby upright as much as possible. This will help make their breathing and feeding easier.
• If your baby appears distressed, you can give them liquid paracetamol (such as Calpol®) or ibuprofen to help ease pain. It is important that you read the instructions carefully before use.
• Make sure you keep your baby away from tobacco smoke, as this can make their symptoms worse.