Acute viral infections in the lungs may lead to inflammation of the bronchioles. Bronchiolitis often occurs in infants under one year old, is a very critical illness, and frequently spreads during winter.
Initially, patients exhibit symptoms similar to common colds. After two or three days, the following symptoms may appear:
1. Dry cough, frequent coughing.
2. Difficulty breathing, rapid breathing. Some infants may experience abnormally long intervals between breaths.
3. Refusal to eat.
4. Bluish discoloration of the lips and tongue.
5. Lethargy.
If the child is under one year old and exhibits coughing or wheezing symptoms, you should take them to the hospital for a check-up. If there are signs of difficulty breathing, or if the lips and tongue have turned blue, or if the child is showing lethargy, call an ambulance immediately.
If the symptoms of bronchiolitis are mild, the doctor might prescribe a bronchodilator and recommend that parents care for the child at home. Ensure the child drinks enough fluids and try to feed them smaller meals more frequently. Parents can also gently pat the child's back to help loosen mucus in their lungs. Mild cases of bronchiolitis usually recover within a week. However, children requiring hospitalization might need to breathe oxygen through a plastic hood, receive nutrition via a nasal tube, or occasionally require intravenous fluids to maintain hydration. In severe cases, mechanical ventilation might be necessary.
After treatment, bronchiolitis generally does not cause permanent lung damage. However, in the years following an episode of bronchiolitis, the child may experience wheezing whenever they catch a cold.