What is Bronchiolitis?
• Bronchiolitis is a viral infection which causes the small airways in the baby’s lungs to become swollen. This can make it difficult for the baby to breathe.
• It is more common in the winter months and usually only causes mild cold-like symptoms.
• Most babies get better on their own.
• Some, especially young babies can struggle with their breathing or feeding and may need to go to hospital.
• Mild fever
• Runny nose
• Cough (after a few days your baby’s cough may become worse).
• Breathing may be faster than normal and may become noisy.
• Pauses in breathing may be observed.
• As breathing becomes faster, the baby may not be able
to take the usual amount of milk by breast or bottle.
• You may notice fewer wet nappies than previously.
• Your baby may vomit after feeding and become unsettled.
• Most symptoms seem to worsen between days 3 to 5 of the illness.
• The cough may be present for a few weeks.
• Antibiotics are not required as the illness is caused by a virus.
• If your baby is not feeding as normal, offer smaller feeds more often.
• You may wish to give your baby either Paracetamol (from 2 months of age) or Ibuprofen (from 3 months of age) to provide them some relief of symptoms. Please speak to your GP or pharmacist if you have any questions about this.
• Make sure your child is not exposed to tobacco smoke. Passive smoking and smoke on parents’/carers’ clothing will make your baby’s breathing worse.
Please phone 999 or go to the nearest Hospital Emergency (A&E) Department if you Child has any of the following:
- Has Blue lips
- Has pauses in breathing (apnoeas), has an irregular breathing pattern or starts grunting
- Severe difficulity in breathing - too breathless to feed
- Becomes pale, mottled and feels abnormally cold to touch
- Becomes extremely agitated, confused or very lethargic (difficult to wake)
- is under 3 months of age with a temperature of 38c / 100.4F or above(unless fever in the 48 hours following vaccinations and no other red or amber features)
Please ring your GP Surgery or call NHS 111 - Dial 111 if you child has any of the following;
- Has laboured / rapid breathing or is working hard to breathe - drawing in of the muscles below their lower ribs, at their neck or between their ribs (recession).
- Seems dehydrated (sunken eyes, drowsy or no urine passed for 12 hours)
- is becoming drowsy (excessively sleepy)
- seems to be getting worse or you are worried
Using the advice below you can provide the care your child needs at homes.
- If none of the features in the red or amber boxes above are present
• Your child is having difficulty breathing – you may notice grunting noises or their tummy sucking under their ribs
• There are pauses when your child breathes
• Your child’s skin, tongue or lips are blue
• Your child is floppy and will not wake up or stay awake
As a parent, you may know if your child seems seriously unwell and you should therefore trust your own judgement.
