Showing posts with label Bronchiolitis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bronchiolitis. Show all posts

Bronchiolitis - Prevention

Prevention-Bronchiolitis







The virus that causes bronchiolitis is very common and easily spread, so it's impossible to completely prevent it.
But you can reduce the likelihood of your child developing or spreading the infection by:
  • covering your child's nose and mouth when they coughor sneeze
  • using disposable tissues rather than handkerchiefs, and throwing them away as soon as they have been used
  • washing your hands and your child's hands frequently, particularly after touching their nose or mouth or after feeding
  • asking anyone who comes into contact with your child, such as a relative or nanny, to wash their hands first
  • washing and drying eating utensils after use
  • washing or wiping toys and surfaces regularly
  • keeping infected children at home until their symptoms have improved
  • keeping newborn babies away from people with colds or flu, particularly during the first 2 months of life or if they were born prematurely (before week 37 of pregnancy)
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Bronchiolitis - Complications

Complications-Bronchiolitis







If your child develops complications from bronchiolitis, it's likely that they'll need hospital treatment.
Potential complications of bronchiolitis include:
  • cyanosis (a blue tinge to the skin caused by a lack of oxygen)
  • dehydration (when the normal water content of the body is reduced)
  • fatigue (extreme tiredness and a lack of energy)
  • severe respiratory failure (an inability to breathe unaided)
In rare cases, bronchiolitis can be accompanied by a bacterial lung infection called pneumonia. Pneumonia will need to be treated separately.
Contact your GP immediately if any of these complications occur.
In some cases (for example, if your child is having severe breathing difficulties) you'll need to dial 999 and ask for an ambulance so your child can be taken to hospital.
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Bronchiolitis - Treatment

Treatment-Bronchiolitis







In most cases, bronchiolitis is mild and gets better within 2 to 3 weeks without needing treatment.
A small number of children will still have some symptoms after 4 weeks.
In a few cases, the infection is severe enough to require hospital treatment.

Treatment at home

If you're looking after your child at home, check on them regularly, including throughout the night.
Contact your GP or out-of-hours service if their condition worsens.
There's no medicine that can kill the virus that causes bronchiolitis, but you should be able to ease mild symptoms and make your child more comfortable.
To avoid the infection spreading to other children, take your child out of nursery or day care and keep them at home until their symptoms have improved.
The following advice may make your child more comfortable while they recover.
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Bronchiolitis - Diagnosis

Diagnosis-Bronchiolitis


See your GP if your child has symptoms of bronchiolitis. A diagnosis is usually based on the symptoms and an examination of your child's breathing.
Your GP may ask if your child has had a runny nose, coughor high temperature and for how long. This will help confirm whether they have the symptoms of bronchiolitis.
They'll listen to your child's breathing using a stethoscope to check for any crackling or high-pitched wheezing as your child breathes in and out.
If your child hasn't been feeding very well or has been vomiting, your GP may also look for signs of dehydration.
These include:
  • a dipped fontanelle (the soft spot on the top of the head) in babies
  • a dry mouth and skin
  • drowsiness
  • producing little or no urine
Your GP may recommend that your child is admitted to hospital if they aren't feeding properly and are dehydrated, or they're having problems breathing.

Further tests

Further tests for bronchiolitis aren't usually necessary. But as some conditions cause similar symptoms to bronchiolitis, such as cystic fibrosis and asthma, tests may be needed.
If it isn't clear what's causing your child's symptoms, or your child has signs of severe bronchiolitis, your GP may recommend further tests in hospital to help confirm the diagnosis.
These tests might include:
  • a mucus sample test (where a sample of mucus from your child's nose will be tested to identify the virus causing their bronchiolitis)
  • urine or blood tests
  • a pulse oximeter test (where a small electronic device is clipped to your child's finger or toe to measure the oxygen in their blood)


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Bronchiolitis - Causes

Causes-Bronchiolitis


Bronchiolitis is almost always caused by a viral infection. In most cases, the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is responsible.
RSV is a very common virus and almost all children are infected with it by the time they're 2 years old.
In older children and adults, RSV may cause a cough or cold, but in young children it can cause bronchiolitis.

How the infection is spread

Viruses are spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
Tiny droplets of liquid can be breathed in directly from the air or picked up from a surface they have landed on, such as a toy or table.
For example, your child can become infected after touching a toy that has the virus on it and then touching their eyes, mouth or nose.
RSV can survive on a surface for up to 24 hours.
An infected child can remain infectious for up to 3 weeks, even after their symptoms have disappeared.

How it affects the lungs

Once you become infected, the virus enters the respiratory system through the windpipe (trachea).
The virus makes its way down to the smallest airways in the lungs (the bronchioles).
The infection causes the bronchioles to become inflamed (swollen) and increases the production of mucus.
The mucus and swollen bronchioles can block the airways, making breathing difficult.
As babies and young children have small, underdeveloped airways, they're more likely to get bronchiolitis.

Who's most at risk?

Bronchiolitis is very common in infants and is usually mild.
Several things can increase a child's likelihood of developing the infection.
These include:
  • being breastfed for less than 2 months, or not at all
  • being exposed to smoke (for example, if parents smoke)
  • having brothers or sisters who attend school or nursery, as they're more likely to come into contact with a virus and pass it on
There are also a number of factors that can increase the risk of a child developing more severe bronchiolitis.
These include:
  • being under 2 months of age
  • having congenital heart disease
  • being born prematurely (before week 37 of pregnancy)
  • having chronic lung disease of prematurity (when injury to the lungs causes long-term respiratory problems in premature babies)


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Bronchiolitis - Symptoms

Symptoms-Bronchiolitis


Most children with bronchiolitis have mild symptoms and recover within 2 to 3 weeks, but it's important to look out for signs of more serious problems, such as breathing difficulties.
Early symptoms of bronchiolitis tend to appear within a few days of becoming infected.
They're usually similar to those of a common cold, such as a blocked or runny nose, a cough, and a slightly high temperature (fever).
The symptoms usually get worse during the next few days before gradually improving.
During this time, your child may develop some of the following symptoms:
  • a rasping and persistent dry cough
  • rapid or noisy breathing (wheezing)
  • brief pauses in their breathing
  • feeding less and having fewer wet nappies
  • vomiting after feeding
  • being irritable
Most cases of bronchiolitis aren't serious, but the symptoms can be very worrying.
Symptoms are usually at their worst between day 3 and day 5. The cough usually gets better within 3 weeks.

When to get medical advice

Medical advice isn't needed if your child has mild cold-like symptoms and is recovering well. You can usually care for your child at home.
But see your GP or contact NHS 111 if you're worried about your child or they:
  • aren't feeding normally (they have taken less than half their usual amount during the last 2 or 3 feeds)
  • haven't had a wet nappy for 12 hours or more
  • are breathing very fast
  • have a persistent high temperature of 38C or above
  • seem very tired or irritable
It's particularly important to get medical advice if your baby is less than 12 weeks old or they have an underlying health condition, such as a congenital (present from birth) heart or lung condition.

When to call 999

While it's unusual for children to need hospital treatment for bronchiolitis, the symptoms can get worse very quickly.
Call 999 and ask for an ambulance if:
  • your child has difficulty breathing or exhaustion from trying to breathe (you may see the muscles under their ribs sucking in with each breath, they may be grunting with the effort of trying to breathe, or they may be pale and sweaty)
  • they're breathing very fast
  • you're unable to wake your child or, if woken up, they don't stay awake
  • their breathing stops for a long time, or there are regular shorter pauses in their breathing
  • their skin turns very pale or blue, or the inside of their lips and tongue are blue (cyanosis)


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Bronchiolitis - Overview

Overview-Bronchiolitis


Bronchiolitis is a common lower respiratory tract infection that affects babies and young children under 2 years old.
Most cases are mild and clear up within 2 to 3 weeks without the need for treatment, although some children have severe symptoms and need hospital treatment.
The early symptoms of bronchiolitis are similar to those of a common cold, such as a runny nose and a cough.
Further symptoms then usually develop over the next few days, including:
  • a slight high temperature (fever)
  • a dry and persistent cough
  • difficulty feeding
  • rapid or noisy breathing (wheezing)

When to get medical help

Most cases of bronchiolitis aren't serious, but see your GP or call NHS 111 if:
  • you're worried about your child
  • your child has taken less than half their usual amount during the last 2 or 3 feeds, or they have had a dry nappy for 12 hours or more
  • your child has a persistent high temperature of 38C or above
  • your child seems very tired or irritable
A diagnosis of bronchiolitis is based on your child's symptoms and an examination of their breathing.

Dial 999 for an ambulance if:

  • your baby is having difficulty breathing
  • your baby's tongue or lips are blue
  • there are long pauses in your baby's breathing

What causes bronchiolitis?

Bronchiolitis is caused by a virus known as the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which is spread through tiny droplets of liquid from the coughs or sneezes of someone who's infected.
The infection causes the smallest airways in the lungs (the bronchioles) to become infected and inflamed.
The inflammation reduces the amount of air entering the lungs, making it difficult to breathe.

Who's affected?

Around 1 in 3 children in the UK will develop bronchiolitis during their first year of life. It most commonly affects babies between 3 and 6 months of age.
By the age of 2, almost all infants will have been infected with RSV and up to half will have had bronchiolitis.
Bronchiolitis is most widespread during the winter (from November to March). It's possible to get bronchiolitis more than once during the same season.

Treating bronchiolitis

There's no medication to kill the virus that causes bronchiolitis, but the infection usually clears up within 2 weeks without the need for treatment.
Most children can be cared for at home in the same way that you'd treat a cold.
Make sure your child gets enough fluid to avoid dehydration. You can give infants paracetamol or ibuprofen to bring down their temperature if the fever is upsetting them. 
About 2 to 3% of babies who develop bronchiolitis during the first year of life will need to be admitted to hospital because they develop more serious symptoms, such as breathing difficulties.
This is more common in premature babies (born before week 37 of pregnancy) and those born with a heart or lung condition.

Preventing bronchiolitis

It's very difficult to prevent bronchiolitis, but there are steps you can take to reduce your child's risk of catching it and help prevent the virus spreading.
You should:
  • wash your hands and your child's hands frequently
  • wash or wipe toys and surfaces regularly
  • keep infected children at home until their symptoms have improved
  • keep newborn babies away from people with colds or flu
  • avoid smoking around your child, and don't let others smoke around them
Some children who are at high risk of developing severe bronchiolitis may have monthly antibody injections, which help limit the severity of the infection.


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