Bronchiolitis

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Bronchiolitis?

Bronchiolitis starts with symptoms of a cold. Children and babies may have:

• Fever
• Cough
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Fast breathing
• Wheezing (making a whistling sound when breathing)
• Pauses in breathing for 15 seconds or longer
• Skin pulling in between the ribs or around the neck when breathing
• Decreased appetite (other symptoms can make a child want to eat less)

How Is Bronchiolitis Diagnosed?

To diagnose bronchiolitis, the doctor or health care provider will ask about your child’s health history and do a physical exam. They will listen to your child’s chest and check their oxygen level. If they think it is caused by influenza or COVID-19, they may swab the inside of your child’s nose to test for them.

How Is Bronchiolitis Treated?

Antibiotic medicines DO NOT treat or work against bronchiolitis because it is caused by a virus. Below are things you can do at home depending on your child’s symptom(s).

• Hydration – It is common for children to be less hungry when they are sick. It is very important your child stays hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids.
• Suctioning – Bulb suction devices and human-powered nose suction devices, like Nose Frida^®, can be used to clear extra mucus (boogers, snot) when your child has trouble breathing or feeding.
• Saline drops – Put a few drops of salt water (saline) in each nostril before suctioning to help make mucous softer and easier to get out.
• Watch for fevers – Give your child acetaminophen (Tylenol^®) or ibuprofen (Motrin^®, Advil^®). Do not give ibuprofen to children under 6 months of age. Always follow dosing instructions on the package or from your health care provider. Ask your nurse or health care provider for more information on dosing for acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
• Smoking – Don’t smoke around your child or let others smoke around them. It will make symptoms worse.
• DO NOT give your child:
  • Cough and cold medicines to children under the age of 4 years old.
  • Honey to children under 12 months old.
  • Fruit juice, water, or Pedialyte^® to children under 12 months old without discussing it with your health care provider.

How Do You Keep Bronchiolitis From Spreading?

Bronchiolitis is a contagious infection. This means that it can be spread from person to person by contact, such as sneezing or coughing. To help prevent spreading bronchiolitis, follow these rules:

• Your child and family should wash their hands often.
• Sneeze or cough into a tissue or into your shirt sleeve.
• Do not share personal items like pacifiers, towels, toothbrushes, cups, bottles, or utensils.
• Wash your child’s toys and clothes often.
• Keep your child home from school or childcare until they’re fever-free for 24 hours.

When Should I Get Help for Bronchiolitis?

When to Call the Doctor

Call your child’s doctor or health care provider if they:

• Have skin pulling between their ribs or around their neck when breathing.
• Make grunting noises when breathing or breathe very fast.
• Have pauses in breathing for 15 seconds or longer.
• Have problems eating, drinking, or sleeping.
• Are not peeing (urinating) often or at all, make fewer wet diapers, or have sunken eyes or a soft spot on the head.
• Have a fever:
• Younger than 3 months: 100.4˚F (38˚C) or higher.
• Older than 3 months:
• 104˚F (40˚C) or above.
• Above 102˚F (38.9˚C) for more than 2 days or keeps coming back.
• Does not go down with treatment.

When to Call 911

Call 911 or go to the emergency department if your child:

• Has trouble breathing.
• Is hard to wake up.
• Has pale, blue, or gray skin, lips, fingers, or toes.

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