BRONCHIOLITIS

• Bronchiolitis is a common respiratory illness among infants. One of its
  symptoms is trouble breathing, which can be scary for parents and children.
  Read on for more information from the A merican A cademy of Pediatrics about
  bronchiolitis, its causes, signs and symptoms, how to treat it, and how to
  prevent it.
  What is bronchiolitis?
  Bronchiolitis is an infection that causes the small breathing tubes of the lungs
  (bronchioles) to swell. This blocks air ow through the lungs, making it hard
  to breathe. It occurs most often in infants because their airways are smaller
  and more easily blocked than in older children. Bronchiolitis is not the same
  as bronchitis , which is an infection of the larger, more central airways that
  typically causes problems in adults
• What causes bronchiolitis?
  Bronchiolitis is caused by one of several viruses. Respiratory syncytial virus
  (RSV ) is the most likely cause from October through M arch. Other viruses
  can also cause bronchiolitis.
  Infants with RSV infection are more likely to get bron chiolitis with wheezing
  and dif culty breathing. M ost adults and many older children with RSV
  infection only get a cold. RSV is spread by contact with an infected person’s
  mucus or saliva (respiratory droplets produced during coughing or wheezing).
  It often spreads through families and child care centers. (See “H ow can you
  prevent your baby from getting bronchiolitis?”)
  What are the signs and symptoms of bronchiolitis?
  Bronchiolitis often starts with signs of a cold, such as a runny nose, mild
  cough, and fever. A fter a day or two, the cough may get worse and the infant
  will begin to breathe faster. The following signs may mean that the infant is
  having trouble breathing:
• he may breathe faster than normal
• his nose may widen to take in more air
• his breathing become noisy with wheeze or grunt
• he find it difficult to suck  or drink

If you think your child has bronchiolitis and your child has any of the following conditions

♥   premature

♥   congenital heart disease

♥   age less than three months

♥  cystic fibrosis

♥   immune deficiency

⇒get back to your doctor

• How can you prevent your baby from getting bronchiolitis?
• handwashing by everyone who handles the baby
• avoid contact with people with cold,fever ,runny nose