Bronchiolitis (wheezing babies)
Bronchiolitis;;
Bronchiolitis is an illness that causes babies and young children to wheeze. It most often happens around the beginning of winter.
Some children who have had bronchiolitis as a baby may wheeze when they get other viral infections when they are older.
- Bronchiolitis affects the bronchioles, the smallest airways in the lungs.
- It is usually caused by the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) but can be caused by influenza viruses, rhinoviruses, adenoviruses and other viruses.
- It affects children under 12 months, most frequently between 1 month and 6 months of age. Young babies can become seriously ill with the infection.
- 10-20% of babies with bronchiolitis need to go to hospital. Premature babies and babies with congenital heart disease or cystic fibrosis are at greater risk of becoming ill with this infection.
- Nearly all young children will have an RSV infection in the first 2 years of their life but only about 10% will get bronchiolitis.
More information - and how to look after a baby with bronchiolitis
There is more information about bronchiolitis on these websites
Royal Children's Hospital (Melbourne - Australia)
http://www.rch.org.au/home/
Raising Children Network (Australia) The Raising Children website is produced with the help of an extensive network including the Australian Government.
http://raisingchildren.net.au/
The information on this site should not be used as an alternative to professional care. If you have a particular problem, see a doctor, or ring the Parent Helpline on 1300 364 100 (local call cost from anywhere in South Australia).
This topic may use 'he' and 'she' in turn - please change to suit your child's sex.