Bronchiolitis

As many as one in 30 babies is admitted to hospital with this common viral infection that causes serious breathing difficulties and is more common in the winter months, especially among baby boys. It mainly affects children up to two years old with most cases happening at around six months old.

Bronchiolitis is usually caused by a virus called Respiratory Syncytial Virus. This causes the small airways or bronchioles in the lungs to narrow and become filled with mucus, making breathing difficult. It usually lasts around seven days but your child can also be left with a lingering cough for weeks afterwards.

Wheezing is usually the first sign, sometimes accompanied by a cough, difficulty in feeding and fever. But the following symptoms are serious and should be checked out with a doctor immediately:

• Any sudden difficulty in breathing following a cough or cold, such as rapid breathing or wheezing
• Excessive drowsiness
• The doctor will use a stethoscope to detect any characteristic bubbling or crackling noises in the lungs associated with bronchiolitis before deciding on a course of action.

Treatment is difficult as the condition is viral and hospitalisation is needed only in most severe cases where the baby's breathing is badly affected and requires oxygen therapy and fluids. Mild cases can be treated at home.

What to do

• Raise the head of the cot to help your baby breathe more easily at night
• Hang wet towels on the radiator to raise the humidity in the nursery (or place a room humidifier out of reach)
• Sprinkle some decongestant drops on a hankie and place it out of reach in the cot
• Keep your baby's fluid intake up
• Give nose drops (available from your GP) if your baby is having difficulty feeding