Bronchiolitis

Bronchiolitis is a lung infection caused by a virus. It is seen in children under 2 years old usually in winter and early spring. Most children are sick for about 1 week.

Symptoms:

• Runny nose
• Slight fever for 2 to 3 days
• Will develop a cough, fast breathing and wheezing for another 2 to 3 days

Treatment:

• Encourage your child to drink lots of fluids.
• Do not worry if they do not eat much food.
• Treat the fever with acetaminophen or ibuprofen (ask for info sheets)
• If your child is coughing a lot or having trouble breathing, try running hot water in the shower to make the bathroom steamy. DO NOT PUT THEM IN THE TUB!
• Do not lie them down flat.

Can bronchiolitis be passed on to someone else?

• The virus is spread like the cold virus is spread.
• Keep your child home from daycare until their cough is almost gone.
• Make sure you wash your hands carefully after caring for your child.

Return to the Emergency Department IF:

• Your child cannot keep fluids down (vomiting).
• When you count your child's breaths for 1 minute and the number is more than 40.
• You can see the skin in between your child's ribs being pulled in when they breathe and/or they cannot breathe very well when lying down
• Your child has heart problems or was born prematurely (before the date they were supposed to be born on)