Bronchiolitis

Bronchiolitis is a common chest infection caused by a virus.

Bronchiolitis causes difficulty breathing. It usually affects babies younger than 12 months of age.

Bronchiolitis is infectious (spreads from person to person). It is more common in autumn and winter.

At first it may seem like your baby has a cold. After a couple of days, they might get worse.

Symptoms of bronchiolitis include:

• a runny nose
• cough
• fever
• fast breathing
• working hard to breath — you may see the ribs or skin under your baby's neck sucking in or their nostrils flaring
• irritability or being unsettled

Your baby might find it hard to feed.

Your baby might be sick for 7 to 10 days. The cough can take a few weeks to get better.

Bronchiolitis is caused by an infection, usually with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

Bronchiolitis can also be caused by other viruses. The viruses spread through small droplets when infected people cough, talk or sneeze.

When your baby has bronchiolitis, the small airways in their lungs become clogged with fluid and mucus. This can make it hard to breathe.

If your baby was born prematurely (early), or has other health problems, they may get worse symptoms.

Often the illness is mild, and you can look after your baby at home. If you are worried that your baby has bronchiolitis, take them to the doctor. It can get worse quickly.

Always take your baby to the doctor if they are unwell and:

• are younger than 10 weeks old or were born early
• have a lung disease or a weakened immune system
• are not eating or drinking as much as usual
• are breathing very fast, wheezing or having difficulty breathing
• are very tired, hard to wake or irritable
• are not weeing as much as usual (have fewer wet nappies)
• are pale and sweaty
• are getting worse quickly

As a guide, a baby is not eating or drinking as much as usual if they have:

• less than half of their feed for 2 or more feeds
• are refusing feeds
• fewer wet nappies than usual

Dial triple zero (000) and ask for an ambulance if your baby or child is:

• having trouble breathing
• exhausted from trying to breathe
• turning blue or stops breathing for a few seconds

Your doctor will ask what symptoms your baby is having. They will want to know:

• how long ago they started to get sick
• how well they are feeding
• if they seem to be having trouble breathing
• if you baby was born prematurely
• if your baby has other health problems

Your doctor will examine your baby to:

• check their breathing
• listen to their chest for a wheeze (a whistling sound in the chest) or other sounds
• check how much oxygen is in their blood

Your doctor will let you know if your baby can be cared for at home or if they need hospital treatment. Hospital treatment involves:

• close monitoring of your baby
• oxygen
• fluids or feeding through a tube, if needed

You can help your baby get better at home by:

• letting them rest
• giving them small, frequent feeds
• using saline nasal drops to help clear their nose
• giving pain-relief medicine, such as paracetamol

Do not smoke or vape near your baby because this can make bronchiolitis worse.

Antibiotics won't work for bronchiolitis because it is caused by a virus. But they are sometimes given if a bacterial infection is also present.

If bronchiolitis becomes severe, your baby may have trouble feeding or breathing properly. If your baby is not able to feed, they can become dehydrated.

Other complications of bronchiolitis can include:

• a cough that persists for weeks
• wheeze that comes and goes for a long time afterwards
• a bacterial infection at the same time as bronchiolitis, which can cause pneumonia

The best ways to stop the spread of infections that can cause bronchiolitis are to:

• wash your hands frequently
• keep your hands away from your mouth, nose and eyes
• throw away used tissues straight away
• keep your sick baby away from other children

Immunisation against RSV infection is available. Talk to your doctor about what is available and when to get vaccinated.

Read more about bronchiolitis at the Sydney Children's Hospital website.

The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne has information on bronchiolitis, including in other languages.

You can also call the healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria). A registered nurse is available to speak with you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.