Get Bronchiolitis information from Consumer Reports Health.

Bronchiolitis

How common is bronchiolitis?

Bronchiolitis is most common in winter, or in the rainy season in warmer countries.

Bronchiolitis is the most common infection of the lower airways in babies and very young children.

Source:
Phelan P, Olinsky A, Robertson C.
Respiratory illness in children.
4th edition. Blackwell Scientific Publications, London, UK; 1994.

About 1 in 5 infants have an infection of the lower airways each year.

Source:
Gruber W.
Bronchiolitis.
In: Long S, Pickering L, Prober C (editors). Principles and practice of pediatric infectious diseases. 1st edition. Churchill Livingstone, New York, U.S.A.; 1997.

² Most children aren't seriously ill.
Between 2 in 100 and 3 in 100 babies need care in the hospital for bronchiolitis every year.

Source:
Holman RC, Curns AT, Cheek JE, et al.
Respiratory syncytial virus hospitalizations among American Indian and Alaska Native infants and general United States infant population.
Pediatrics. 2004; 114: 437-444.

³
The most common age for babies to be admitted to the hospital is between 2 months and 6 months.

Source:
Glezen WP, Taber LH, Frank AL, et al.
Risk of primary infection and reinfection with respiratory syncytial virus.
American Journal of Diseases in Childhood. 1986; 140: 543-546.

⁴

Children of native American or Inuit race are more likely to get bronchiolitis.

Source:
Wang EEL, Law BJ, Stephens D, et al.
Pediatric investigators collaborative network on infections in Canada (PICNIC) study of morbidity and risk factors with RSV disease.
Journal of Pediatrics. 1995; 126: 212-219.

⁵

Sources for the information on this page:

Phelan P, Olinsky A, Robertson C.Respiratory illness in children.4th edition. Blackwell Scientific Publications, London, UK; 1994.

Gruber W.Bronchiolitis.In: Long S, Pickering L, Prober C (editors). Principles and practice of pediatric infectious diseases. 1st edition. Churchill Livingstone, New York, U.S.A.; 1997.

Holman RC, Curns AT, Cheek JE, et al.Respiratory syncytial virus hospitalizations among American Indian and Alaska Native infants and general United States infant population.Pediatrics. 2004; 114: 437-444.

Glezen WP, Taber LH, Frank AL, et al.Risk of primary infection and reinfection with respiratory syncytial virus.American Journal of Diseases in Childhood. 1986; 140: 543-546.

Wang EEL, Law BJ, Stephens D, et al.Pediatric investigators collaborative network on infections in Canada (PICNIC) study of morbidity and risk factors with RSV disease.Journal of Pediatrics. 1995; 126: 212-219.

This information was last updated on Nov 06, 2008

This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment.
© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2009. All rights reserved.

The information on ConsumerReportsHealth.org should not be viewed as a substitute for a consultation with a medical or health professional. The information is meant to enhance communication with your doctor, not replace it. Consumers Union can not be liable for any loss, injury, or other damages related to your use of this information.

Your use of this information is subject to our User Agreement available at www.ConsumerReportsHealth.org.