This is especially important if a family member is sick. Clean and disinfect surfaces and items that people often touch, such as toys and doorknobs. This is especially important in the first two months of life. If your child is a newborn, especially a premature newborn, avoid being around people with colds. Limit contact with people who have a fever or cold.If your child has bronchiolitis, keep your child at home until the illness is past to avoid spreading it to others. If you have any of these illnesses, wear a face mask. This is especially important before touching your baby when you have a cold, flu or other illness that can be spread.

Preventionīecause the viruses that cause bronchiolitis spread from person to person, one of the best ways to prevent infection is to wash your hands often. This helps your child breathe until the infection improves. Severe respiratory failure may require that a tube be guided into the windpipe. If any of these happen, your child may need to be in the hospital. Not being able to get the amount of oxygen needed.This can cause dehydration, when too much body fluid is lost.

Not being able to drink enough liquids.Pauses in breathing, which is most likely to happen in babies born too early and in babies under 2 months old.Having siblings who go to school or get child care services and bring home the infection.Ĭomplications of severe bronchiolitis may include:.Contact with lots of other children, such as in a child care setting.Other factors that increase the risk of bronchiolitis in infants and young children include: Infants younger than 3 months have the highest risk of getting bronchiolitis because their lungs and their ability to fight infections aren't yet fully developed. Risk factorsīronchiolitis usually affects children under the age of 2 years. You also can get them by touching shared items - such as dishes, doorknobs, towels or toys - and then touching your eyes, nose or mouth. You can get them through droplets in the air when someone who is sick coughs, sneezes or talks. The viruses that cause bronchiolitis are easily spread. Bronchiolitis also can be caused by other viruses, including those that cause the flu or the common cold. Outbreaks of RSV infection often happen during the colder months of the year in some locations or the rainy season in others. RSV is a common virus that infects just about every child by 2 years of age. Mucus collects in these airways, which makes it difficult for air to flow freely in and out of the lungs.īronchiolitis is usually caused by the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). The infection makes the bronchioles swollen and irritated. Appears slow moving, weak or very tired.īronchiolitis happens when a virus infects the bronchioles, which are the smallest airways in the lungs.Makes grunting noises with each breath.

Can't breathe easily and the ribs seem to suck inward when breathing in.

Breathes very fast - in infants this can be more than 60 breaths a minute - with short, shallow breaths.

Refuses to drink enough, or breathes too fast to eat or drink.

Struggles to breathe and can't speak or cry.

Has blue or gray skin, lips and fingernails due to low oxygen levels.

Get medical attention right away if your child has any of these symptoms: This is especially important if your child is younger than 12 weeks old or has other risk factors for bronchiolitis - for example, being born too early, also called premature, or having a heart condition.

If symptoms become serious, call your child's health care provider. Many infants with bronchiolitis also have an ear infection called otitis media. Later, your child may have a week or more of working harder than usual to breathe, which may include wheezing. For the first few days, the symptoms of bronchiolitis are much like a cold:

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