Bronchiolitis is a viral infection of the small airways (bronchioles) of the lower respiratory tract that affects children under two years. The main cause is the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), which normally causes cold symptoms. Infection is spread by direct contact with respiratory secretions.
Bronchiolitis normally occurs in epidemics that start in November and peak in January. It is one of the commonest causes of hospital admissions among babies, with 20,000 children under one being admitted to hospital with the infection every year. In very rare instances it can cause death.
Symptoms
The child will probably have a runny nose and slight fever for two to three days. Instead of getting better, though, the child then may begin to cough, breathe fast, and wheeze (make a high-pitched whistling sound when breathing) for another two to three days. The doctor should be consulted if:
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