Elaborating About Bronchiolitis In Children


Bronchiolitis is a lower respiratory tract infectivity that occurs in children younger than two years old. It is mostly caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). This virus attacks the lungs and causes congestion of airways affecting respiration. As a result, a person experiences shortness of breath and gets tired easily. The irritation partly or fully blocks the airways, which causes wheezing (a whistling sound heard as the child breathes out). This means that a smaller amount oxygen enters the lungs, potentially causing a reduce in the blood level of oxygen. One of the most risk factors for getting bronchiolitis is being younger than 6 months old, because the lungs and resistant system aren't yet fully developed. So that children are more prone to this disease because their immune systems are undeveloped to fight the disease. Like Flu or cold virus, RSV is also air-borne. It can be easily transferred from sneezes or talk of sick person or coming in contact with the things used by him.

Symptoms: -

Symptoms are similar to those of flu or common cold. For some days, symptoms are similar to those of common cold. However, the disease progresses into Bronchiolitis later. These symptoms may last for a few weeks' even months.
•    Runny and stuffy nose
•    Cough
•    Fever
•    Breathing difficulty
•    Rapid and shallow breathing
•    Wheezing
•    Ear infection (Otitis Media)
•    Vomiting
•    Cyanosis- skin, lips and fingernails turning blue
•    Fatigue
•    Reluctance to intake fluids

Risk factors: -

There are some common risk factors related in early stage, that in later stage may cause high chances of pneumonia in children. Some of them can be discussed as below, so that  
•    Premature birth
•    Never being breast fed
•    Weak immune system
•    Exposure to tobacco smoke
•    Underlying lung defect
•    Living in crowded areas

Complications: -

Just like very diseased condition, if left untreated, bronchiolitis can also cause some major complications. It gets necessary for the parents and guardians to look the matter deeply and get to the right medical help, in order to avoid complications in their child. Some of the serious complications are:   
•    Cyanosis, in the youngest infants,
•    Breathing apnea
•    Dehydration.
•    Respiratory failure and pneumonia

Diagnosis: -

Doctor usually identifies the infection by observation and listening to lungs with stethoscope. Other tests might be prescribed to confirm the diagnosis.
•    Chest X-ray: - to check occurrence of pneumonia
•    Mucus sample test: - Nose swab to check the presence of RSV.
•    Blood tests: - To check whether the while blood cell levels have elevated. Increased WBC levels indicate that body is fighting with disease.
•    Oximeter: -to check level of oxygen in the body.

Treatment: -

Sometimes bronchiolitis is cured automatically with rest. In some cases, it can be cured at home with the help of supportive care. Saline doses or bulb suctions can be used to relieve congestion. Nebulized albuterol treatment can be administered to open the airways. In case, the child is diagnosed with pneumonia, antibiotics are administered. If respiratory problems aggravate, tube carrying humidified oxygen is inserted into trachea to facilitate breathing.

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Meet the best pediatrician at the Kanta Sethi Hospital, Rohini. The doctors can help your child best in treating completely.

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