Bronchiolitis continued ...

Symptoms

A baby who develops bronchiolitis often starts off with signs of a cold, such as a runny nose, a mild cough and a fever. After a day or two the cough may get worse. The child may begin to breathe faster. The following signs may mean that he is having trouble breathing:

• He may widen his nostrils and squeeze the muscles under his rib cage to try to get more air in and out of his lungs.
• When he breathes he may grunt and tighten his stomach muscles.
• He will make a high-pitched whistling sound, called a wheeze, each time he breathes out.
• He may not take fluids well because he is working so hard to breathe that he has trouble sucking and swallowing.

Home Treatment

There are no medications you can use to treat RSV infections at home. Antibiotics, which treat bacteria, are not helpful for bronchiolitis because it is almost always caused by a virus. However, you can ease your child's cold symptoms. Try the following suggestions:

• Thin the mucus using over-the-counter salt water solution (saline) nose drops.
• Clear your baby's nose with a suction bulb. This works best in babies under 6 months old.
• Place a cool-mist humidifier or vaporizer in your baby's room. Set it close to her.
• If your baby has a fever, give her acetaminophen. Children at least six months of age may receive ibuprofen.

Professional Treatment

If your baby is having mild to moderate trouble breathing, your pediatrician may try using a drug that opens up the breathing tubes, which seems to help some infants.
Some children with bronchiolitis need to be hospitalized, either for breathing problems or dehydration.
Your pediatrician will help you decide on the best approach for your child.

For more detailed information about bronchiolitis and RSV from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, visit http://www.cdc.gov/rsv/index.html