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- Bronchiolitis is a viral infection of the lungs. It is most commonly caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), but several other viruses can be responsible for the same disease.
- Bronchiolitis is most common in infants younger than 12 to 15 months of age.
- In older children and adults, infection with the viruses that cause bronchiolitis will usually cause an Upper Respiratory Infection (cold).
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- Congestion
- Cough, often worse at night
- Wheezing sounds on expiration
- Fever
- In severe cases:
- Grunting noises with expiration
- Retractions (drawing in of the tissues between the ribs with inspiration)
- Flaring of the nasal openings with inspiration
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- Laboratory examination of nasal secretions can identify the virus responsible for the disease, although this is not necessary in all cases.
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- Albuterol, given by metered-dose inhaler (MDI) or nebulizer
- Suctioning of secretions to remove them from the nose and airway
- In severe cases, hospitalization and oxygen supplementation may be needed.
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- Infants infected with RSV have a 50% chance of developing Asthma later in childhood. It is unknown at this time if the infection somehow causes Asthma, or if these children had underlying Asthma since birth and are more susceptible to infection with RSV.
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- Premature infants (those born more than 1 month early) can have very severe infections with RSV; these babies are given a monthly vaccination to prevent infection.
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