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Usually affecting the tiny airways in the lungs, bronchiolitis is a common respiratory infection mostly affecting newborns and young children. Usually caused by viral infections, the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most common culprit. The illness causes mucus accumulation, inflammation, and airway constriction, making breathing challenging.
Coughing, wheezing, nasal congestion, fast or laboured breathing, and fever define the symptoms of bronchiolitis. In severe circumstances, low oxygen levels could cause newborns to have trouble eating, dehydration, or bluish skin. Usually lasting a few days, the illness peaks and then progressively gets better over one to two weeks.
Highly contagious, bronchiolitis passes through respiratory droplets from coughing or sneezing. It is more typical in colder months and poses a higher risk to children with compromised immune systems and premature babies.
Treatment mostly centres on supportive care, which includes oxygen therapy if necessary, nasal suctioning, and hydration. Only in cases of a bacterial infection can antibiotics be useful. Frequent hand washing, avoiding ill people, and nursing to boost immunity constitute part of prevention plans. Although most cases of bronchiolitis clear on their own, severe cases may need intensive monitoring and oxygen treatment in a hospital.