Acute Bronchiolitis

Acute bronchiolitis is acute viral inflammation of small airways (bronchioles), most often due to RSV in infants <2 years, presenting with rhinorrhea, cough, wheeze, tachypnea, retractions, and hypoxemia. Treatment: supportive care; hydration; suctioning; humidified oxygen; nasal/oral gastric feeding if poor intake; ribavirin in severe immunocompromised; epinephrine/hypertonic saline in selected; isolate; monitor apnea; palivizumab prophylaxis in high-risk infants.

Common Symptoms

Rhinorrhea/cough/wheeze; tachypnea/retractions; hypoxemia; infants <2 y; RSV season

Causes and Pathogenesis

RSV/other viruses infect bronchiolar epithelium, causing edema/mucus/bronchospasm and small-airway obstruction.

Treatment

Supportive care/hydration/oxygen; suctioning; ribavirin in severe immunocompromised; isolate

Preventive Measures

Hand hygiene; palivizumab for high-risk infants; avoid sick contacts.

Department to Visit

It is recommended to visit the Pediatrics/Pulmonology department; an appointment can be booked on this platform before the visit.

Warm reminder: The above information is for health science reference only and cannot replace professional medical diagnosis. If you have related symptoms, please seek medical attention at a regular hospital promptly.