You can care for a child who is not seriously ill at home. Make sure they rest and have plenty to drink.

But if your child has serious breathing problems or is not drinking enough (they are dehydrated) you may need to take your child to the hospital. Most babies need to stay in the hospital for only a short time to make sure they eat and drink enough. Your baby may be fed through a tube passed through their mouth and into their stomach. Rarely, a child may be given fluids though a drip into the bloodstream (intravenously).

About 1 in 50 babies with bronchiolitis who go to the hospital also need help to breathe from a ventilating machine. Babies at high risk because of another serious lung or heart disease are much more likely to need this help.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
Navas L, Wang E, de Carvalho V, et al.
Improved outcome of respiratory syncytial virus infections in a high-risk hospitalized population of Canadian children.
Journal of Pediatrics. 1992; 121: 348-354.

 

 

 

 

 

¹

A very small number of babies become extremely ill and may die.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
Navas L, Wang E, de Carvalho V, et al.
Improved outcome of respiratory syncytial virus infections in a high-risk hospitalized population of Canadian children.
Journal of Pediatrics. 1992; 121: 348-354.

 

 

 

 

 

¹ Children are much more at risk if they have another serious lung or heart disease. About 3 in 100 children who already have heart or lung problems may die from bronchiolitis within two weeks. But just 1 in 1,000 children who are at risk for other reasons are likely to die if they get severe bronchiolitis.

Bronchiolitis may increase the chance of getting

 

 

 

 

 

asthma
Asthma is a long-term disease of the lungs. It makes you wheeze, cough and feel short of breath. Asthma attacks are caused by iflammation and narrowing of the airways, which makes it hard for air to pass in and out of the lungs.

 

 

 

 

 

asthma later, but we don't know for sure. One study found it made no difference.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
McConnochie KM, Mark JD, McBride JT, et al.
Normal pulmonary function measurements and airway reactivity in childhood after mild bronchiolitis.
Journal of Pediatrics. 1985; 107: 54-58.

 

 

 

 

 

² But another study showed that children who had bronchiolitis were twice as likely to have asthma five years later.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
Sly PD, Hibbert ME.
Childhood asthma following hospitalization with acute viral bronchiolitis in infancy.
Pediatric Pulmonology. 1989; 7: 153-158.

 

 

 

 

 

³

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.