What should you know about bronchiolitis signs?

Bronchiolitis is an infection affecting the small airways, usually in babies and young children. Swelling and mucus can narrow these airways. A child may breathe noisily, use the muscles between the ribs, or pause often while feeding. A cough may become wetter or more persistent. Fever can occur, but its presence or absence does not by itself show how seriously breathing is affected.

Watch the child’s overall effort, alertness, drinking and wet nappies alongside the sound of the cough or wheeze. A child with bronchiolitis may be unsettled and tired, while a marked change in responsiveness needs urgent attention.

Keep the child upright while awake and offer smaller, more frequent feeds if breathing makes a full feed difficult. Clear visible nasal mucus gently and avoid smoke or strong scents around the child. Do not give cough medicines or antibiotics unless a clinician has advised them. A child health consultation can help assess breathing, hydration and oxygen levels; see more about [Child Health Consultation](/treatments/consultations-and-assessment/child-health-consultation/).

Seek emergency help if the child is struggling for each breath, has blue or grey lips, has repeated pauses in breathing, becomes unusually floppy or difficult to wake, or cannot drink. Arrange prompt medical assessment when breathing is getting harder, feeds are much smaller, wet nappies are noticeably reduced, or the child is worsening after seeming stable. For background information, read [Bronchiolitis](/conditions/bronchiolitis/).

Ask whether the breathing rate and chest movement are concerning, how to monitor feeds and wet nappies, and which changes should trigger urgent help. You can also ask whether a nebuliser treatment is appropriate; read about [Nebuliser Treatment](/treatments/acute-and-urgent-care/nebuliser-treatment/).