Bronchiolitis is a viral infection that affects the bronchioles (small bronchi). It is a seasonal epidemic disease that generally affects infants and children under two years of age.
Bronchiolitis is a respiratory disease often caused by RSV, Respiratory Syncytial Virus. Like many viruses, bronchiolitis is caught by direct contact with bronchial secretions (sneezing, blowing your nose, sputtering, etc.). You can also be contaminated indirectly through contact with soiled objects. This highly contagious infection is often transmitted from adults and older children to children. While adults will have very few symptoms, in the little ones, the effects can be dangerous.
Symptoms of bronchiolitis in adults can resemble symptoms of a cold or nasopharyngitis. The most common signs are nasal congestion with mild cough and moderate or no fever. In children under two years of age, the signs are characterized by difficulty breathing whose symptoms are coughing and rapid wheezing. When these signs appear, the child may have difficulty sleeping and eating.
How to treat bronchiolitis?
Bronchiolitis, although mild, must be treated. Generally, bronchiolitis heals spontaneously between 5 and 10 days. However, a cough can persist for a fortnight before disappearing. As it is a virus, the use of antibiotics is not essential except in cases of superinfection. To promote healing, wash your nose regularly to clear the nasopharyngeal passages and split meals to ensure proper hydration.
To avoid any contamination, it is necessary to wash your hands regularly. It is essential to clean all surfaces that may be contaminated (door handles, toys, pacifiers, etc.). In addition, it is naturally advisable to ventilate the home daily for 10 minutes.