What should you know about bronchiolitis nursing?

Bronchiolitis affects the small airways, often after a viral cold. A baby may breathe faster, make a wheezing sound, cough, feed less or become unusually tired. Nursing care includes observing breathing effort, skin colour, alertness, wet nappies and the ability to drink. These details help a clinician judge whether home care is suitable or whether the child needs assessment. Read more about [Bronchiolitis](/conditions/bronchiolitis/), [Cough](/symptoms/cough/) and [Wheezing](/symptoms/wheezing/).

Keep the child upright when awake and offer smaller, more frequent feeds. Clear visible nasal mucus gently before feeds if it makes breathing harder. Keep smoke, strong scents and sick contacts away from the child. Give medicines only as directed for that child; do not use leftover antibiotics or cough remedies without clinical advice. A clinician may sometimes recommend inhaled treatment, but a nebuliser is not automatically needed for every case. Consider a [Child Health Consultation](/treatments/consultations-and-assessment/child-health-consultation/) if feeding, sleep or breathing is becoming difficult.

Seek urgent medical help if the child has pauses in breathing, blue or grey lips, severe chest pulling, grunting, marked sleepiness or cannot drink. Arrange prompt assessment when feeds are much smaller, wet nappies are noticeably reduced, or breathing is steadily worsening. Fever in a young baby needs timely medical advice. Track when symptoms began and whether breathing changes during sleep or feeds; this gives the clinician useful context. See guidance about [Fever](/symptoms/fever/).

Ask: How can I recognise increased work of breathing? How much fluid should my child manage? Which signs mean we should return today? Is a [Nebuliser Treatment](/treatments/acute-and-urgent-care/nebuliser-treatment/) appropriate, and what should I do if the child vomits after coughing?