Bronchiolitis- Diagnosis & Treatment

Overview

Bronchiolitis is a common lung infection in young children and infants. It causes inflammation and congestion in the small airways (bronchioles) of the lung. Bronchiolitis is almost always caused by a virus. Typically, the peak time for bronchiolitis is during the winter months.

Bronchiolitis starts out with symptoms similar to those of a common cold, but then progresses to coughing, wheezing and sometimes difficulty breathing. Symptoms of bronchiolitis can last for several days to weeks.

Most children get better with care at home. A small percentage of children require hospitalization.

Symptoms

For the first few days, the signs and symptoms of bronchiolitis are similar to those of a cold:

• Runny nose
• Stuffy nose
• Cough
• Slight fever (not always present)

After this, there may be a week or more of difficulty breathing or a whistling noise when the child breathes out (wheezing).

Many infants also have an ear infection (otitis media).

When to see a doctor

If it’s difficult to get your child to eat or drink and his or her breathing becomes more rapid or labored, call your child’s doctor. This is especially important if your child is younger than 12 weeks old or has other risk factors for bronchiolitis — including premature birth or a heart or lung condition.

The following signs and symptoms are reasons to seek prompt medical attention:

• Audible wheezing sounds
• Breathing very fast — more than 60 breaths a minute (tachypnea) — and shallowly
• Labored breathing — the ribs seem to suck inward when the infant inhales
• Sluggish or lethargic appearance
• Refusal to drink enough, or breathing too fast to eat or drink
• Skin turning blue, especially the lips and fingernails (cyanosis)

Causes

Bronchiolitis occurs when a virus infects the bronchioles, which are the smallest airways in your lungs. The infection makes the bronchioles swell and become inflamed. Mucus collects in these airways, which makes it difficult for air to flow freely in and out of the lungs.

Most cases of bronchiolitis are caused by the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). RSV is a common virus that infects just about every child by 2 years of age. Outbreaks of RSV infection occur every winter, and individuals can be reinfected, as previous infection does not appear to cause lasting immunity. Bronchiolitis also can be caused by other viruses, including those that cause the flu or the common cold.

The viruses that cause bronchiolitis are easily spread. You can contract them through droplets in the air when someone who is sick coughs, sneezes or talks. You can also get them by touching shared objects — such as utensils, towels or toys — and then touching your eyes, nose or mouth.

Risk factors

Bronchiolitis typically affects children under the age of 2 years. Infants younger than 3 months of age are at greatest risk of getting bronchiolitis because their lungs and immune systems aren’t yet fully developed.

Other factors that are linked with an increased risk of bronchiolitis in infants and with more-severe cases include:

• Premature birth
• Underlying heart or lung condition
• Depressed immune system
• Exposure to tobacco smoke
• Never having been breast-fed (breast-fed babies receive immune benefits from the mother)
• Contact with multiple children, such as in a child care setting
• Spending time in crowded environments
• Having siblings who attend school or get child care services and bring home the infection

Complications

Complications of severe bronchiolitis may include:

• Blue lips or skin (cyanosis), caused by lack of oxygen
• Pauses in breathing (apnea), which is most likely to occur in premature babies and in babies within the first two months of life
• Dehydration
• Low oxygen levels and respiratory failure

If these occur, your child may need to be in the hospital. Severe respiratory failure may require that a tube be inserted into the windpipe (trachea) to help the child’s breathing until the infection has run its course.

If your baby was born prematurely, has a heart or lung condition, or has a depressed immune system, watch closely for beginning signs of bronchiolitis. The infection can quickly become severe. In such cases, your child will usually need hospitalization.

Prevention

Because the viruses that cause bronchiolitis spread from person to person, one of the best ways to prevent it is to wash your hands frequently — especially before touching your baby when you have a cold or other respiratory illness. Wearing a face mask at this time is appropriate.

If your child has bronchiolitis, keep him or her at home until the illness is past to avoid spreading it to others.

Other commonsense ways to help curb infection include:

• Limit contact with people who have a fever or cold. If your child is a newborn, especially a premature newborn, avoid exposure to people with colds, especially in the first two months of life.
• Clean and disinfect surfaces. Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that people frequently touch, such as toys and doorknobs. This is especially important if a family member is sick.
• Cover coughs and sneezes. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue. Then throw away the tissue and wash your hands or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Use your own drinking glass. Don’t share glasses with others, especially if someone in your family is ill.
• Wash hands often. Frequently wash your own hands and those of your child. Keep an alcohol-based hand sanitizer handy for yourself and your child when you’re away from home.
• Breast-feed. Respiratory infections are significantly less common in breast-fed babies.

Vaccines and medications

There are no vaccines for the most common causes of bronchiolitis (RSV and rhinovirus). However, an annual flu shot is recommended for everyone older than 6 months.

Infants at high risk of the RSV infection, such as those born prematurely or with a heart or lung condition or who have a depressed immune system, may be given the medication palivizumab (Synagis) to decrease the likelihood of RSV infections.

Diagnosis

Tests and X-rays are not usually needed to diagnose bronchiolitis. The doctor can usually identify the problem by observing your child and listening to the lungs with a stethoscope.

If your child is at risk of severe bronchiolitis, if symptoms are worsening or if another problem is suspected, your doctor may order tests, including:

• Chest X-ray. Your doctor may request a chest X-ray to look for signs of pneumonia.
• Viral testing. Your doctor may collect a sample of mucus from your child to test for the virus causing bronchiolitis. This is done using a swab that’s gently inserted into the nose.
• Blood tests. Occasionally, blood tests might be used to check your child’s white blood cell count. An increase in white blood cells is usually a sign that the body is fighting an infection. A blood test can also determine whether the level of oxygen has decreased in your child’s bloodstream.

Your doctor may also ask you about signs of dehydration, especially if your child has been refusing to drink or eat or has been vomiting. Signs of dehydration include sunken eyes, dry mouth and skin, sluggishness, and little or no urination.

More Information

• Chest X-rays

Treatment

Bronchiolitis typically lasts for two to three weeks. Most children with bronchiolitis can be cared for at home with supportive care. It’s important to be alert for changes in breathing difficulty, such as struggling for each breath, being unable to speak or cry because of difficulty breathing, or making grunting noises with each breath.

Because viruses cause bronchiolitis, antibiotics — which are used to treat infections caused by bacteria — aren’t effective against it.

Bacterial infections such as pneumonia or an ear infection can occur along with bronchiolitis, and your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic for that infection.

Drugs that open the airways (bronchodilators) haven’t been found to be routinely helpful and typically aren’t given for bronchiolitis. In severe cases, your doctor may elect to try a nebulized albuterol treatment to see if it helps.

Oral corticosteroid medications and pounding on the chest to loosen mucus (chest physiotherapy) have not been shown to be effective treatments for bronchiolitis and are not recommended.

Hospital care

A small percentage of children may need hospital care to manage their condition. At the hospital, a child may receive humidified oxygen to maintain sufficient oxygen in the blood, and he or she may receive fluids through a vein (intravenously) to prevent dehydration. In severe cases, a tube may be inserted into the trachea to help the child’s breathing.

Clinical trials

Explore Mayo Clinic studies testing new treatments, interventions and tests as a means to prevent, detect, treat or manage this disease.

Lifestyle and home remedies

Although it may not be possible to shorten the length of your child’s illness, you may be able to make your child more comfortable. Here are some tips to try:

• Humidify the air. If the air in your child’s room is dry, a cool-mist humidifier or vaporizer can moisten the air and help ease congestion and coughing. Be sure to keep the humidifier clean to prevent the growth of bacteria and molds.
• Keep your child upright. Being in an upright position usually makes breathing easier.
• Have your child drink liquids. To prevent dehydration, give your child plenty of clear fluids to drink, such as water or juice. Your child may drink more slowly than usual, because of the congestion. Frequently offer small amounts of fluid.
• Try saline nose drops to ease congestion. You can buy these drops over-the-counter (OTC). They’re effective, safe and nonirritating, even for children. To use them, put several drops into one nostril, then immediately bulb suction that nostril (but don’t push the bulb too far in). Repeat the process in the other nostril.
• Consider OTC pain relievers. For treatment of fever or pain, ask your doctor about giving your child infants’ or children’s over-the-counter fever and pain medications such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) as a safer alternative to aspirin. Aspirin is not recommended in children due to the risk of Reye’s syndrome, a rare but potentially life-threatening condition. Children and teenagers recovering from chickenpox or flu-like symptoms should never take aspirin, as they have a higher risk of Reye’s syndrome.
• Maintain a smoke-free environment. Smoke can worsen symptoms of respiratory infections. If a family member smokes, ask him or her to smoke outside of the house and outside of the car.

Don’t use over-the-counter medicines, except for fever reducers and pain relievers, to treat coughs and colds in children younger than 6 years old. Also, consider avoiding use of these medicines for children younger than 12 years old.

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Acute Bronchitis in Children

What is acute bronchitis in children?

Bronchitis is an inflammation of the large breathing tubes (bronchi) in the lungs. The illness can be short-term (acute) or long-term (chronic). Acute bronchitis means that the symptoms often develop quickly and don’t last long. Most cases are mild.

What causes acute bronchitis in a child?

Acute bronchitis is most often caused by a viral infection. It may also be caused by bacteria or things such as dust, allergens, strong fumes, or tobacco smoke.

In children, the most common cause of acute bronchitis is a virus. The illness may develop after a cold or other viral infection in the nose, mouth, or throat (upper respiratory tract). Such illnesses can spread easily from direct contact with a person who is sick.

Which children are at risk for acute bronchitis?

Children who have a higher chance of developing acute bronchitis are those who have:

• Chronic sinusitis
• Allergies
• Asthma
• Enlarged tonsils and adenoids
• Exposure to secondhand smoke

What are the symptoms of acute bronchitis in a child?

These are the most common symptoms:

• Dry or mucus-filled cough
• Vomiting or gagging
• Runny nose, often before a cough starts
• Chest congestion or pain
• An overall body discomfort or not feeling well
• Chills
• Slight fever
• Back and muscle pain
• Wheezing
• Sore throat

These symptoms often last 7 to 14 days. But the cough may continue for 3 to 4 weeks. These symptoms may look like other health problems. Make sure your child sees his or her healthcare provider for a diagnosis.

How is acute bronchitis diagnosed in a child?

Your child’s healthcare provider can often diagnose acute bronchitis with a health history and physical exam. In some cases, your child may need tests to rule out other health problems, such as pneumonia or asthma. These tests may include:

• Chest X-rays. This test makes images of internal tissues, bones, and organs.
• Pulse oximetry. An oximeter is a small device that measures the amount of oxygen in the blood. For this test, the healthcare provider puts a small sensor (like a clip) on your child’s finger or toe. When the device is on, a small red light can be seen in the sensor. The sensor is painless and the red light does not get hot.
• Sputum and nasal discharge samples. These tests can find the germ causing an infection.

How is acute bronchitis treated in a child?

Treatment will depend on your child’s symptoms, age, and general health. It will also depend on how severe the condition is.

In nearly all cases, antibiotics should not be used to treat acute bronchitis. That’s because most of the infections are caused by viruses. Even children who have been coughing for longer than 8 to 10 days often don’t need antibiotics.

The goal of treatment is to help ease symptoms. Treatment may include:

• Plenty of rest
• Acetaminophen or ibuprofen for fever and mild pain
• Cough medicine for children over 4 years old
• More fluids
• Cool-mist humidifier in your child’s room

Talk with your child’s healthcare provider before giving over-the-counter cough and cold medicine to your child. The American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend giving these medicines to children younger than 4 years old because they may cause harmful side effects. For children between ages 4 and 6, only use over-the-counter products when recommended by your child’s healthcare provider.  In most cases, also don’t give antihistamines. They can dry up the secretions. That can make the cough worse.

Don’t give aspirin or medicine that contains aspirin to a child younger than age 19 unless directed by your child’s provider. Taking aspirin can put your child at risk for Reye syndrome. This is a rare but very serious disorder. It most often affects the brain and the liver.

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What are possible complications of acute bronchitis in a child?

Most children who have acute bronchitis will get better without any problems. But the illness can lead to pneumonia.

How can I help prevent acute bronchitis in my child?

You can help prevent acute bronchitis by stopping the spread of viruses that may lead to it. Take these steps:

• Teach your child to cover their nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing.
• Make sure your child washes his or her hands often.
• Check that your child is up-to-date on all vaccines, including the yearly flu shot.

When should I call my child’s healthcare provider?

Call your child’s healthcare provider right away if your child’s symptoms get worse, if new symptoms develop, or if he or she has:

• Trouble breathing
• A high fever

Key points about acute bronchitis in children

• Bronchitis is an inflammation of the large breathing tubes (bronchi) in the lungs. Acute bronchitis means that the symptoms often develop quickly and don’t last long.
• In children, the most common cause of acute bronchitis is a virus.
• A cough, fever, runny nose, and body aches are common symptoms.
• Treatment is aimed at easing symptoms. It may include plenty of rest and fluids. Medicines for fever or cough may also help.
• Antibiotics are not needed, unless the cause is a bacterial infection.

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