Bronchiolitis

The early symptoms of bronchiolitis are similar to those of a common cold. They include:

• A blocked or runny nose.
• Mild fever.
• A loss of interest in feeding.

After two to three days the symptoms tend to peak and may become more severe. Your child may develop:

• Rapid or shallow breathing.
• A rasping and persistent dry cough.
• A faster than normal heartbeat.

These symptoms can be very worrying for parents, but most cases of bronchiolitis are not serious. However, if your child is showing symptoms of bronchiolitis and they are under 12 weeks old, or they have an underlying health problem such as a congenital (present from birth) lung or heart condition, you should see your GP as soon as possible.

In all cases, you should watch your child closely for any changes to their symptoms and contact your GP if you are at all worried. You should also see your GP if your child develops any of the following symptoms:

• Increased difficulty breathing.
• Refusal to feed (your child has taken less than half of their normal feeds over two to three feeds).
• No wet nappy for 12 hours or more.
• Vomiting.
• A high temperature (over 38C or 100.4F).
• Tiredness or irritability.

While it is unusual for children to need hospital treatment for bronchiolitis, the symptoms can get worse very quickly. Dial 999 for an ambulance if your child develops any of these symptoms:

• Difficulty breathing or exhaustion from trying to breathe (you might see the muscles under your baby's ribs sucking in with each breath, and they may be pale and sweaty).
• Rapid breathing rate of more than 40 breaths a minute.
• Breathing stops for more than ten seconds at a time (known as recurrent apnoea).
• Skin begins to turn ashen or blue, especially around the lips or fingernails (known as cyanosis).

If your child's bronchiolitis is not severe, the infection usually lasts about a week before clearing up on its own. Most children recover fully within two weeks, although up to half may have a recurrent cough or wheeze for some time afterwards. However, permanent damage to the airways is very rare.