How common is wheezing in bronchiolitis?

Bronchiolitis is an infection of the small breathing tubes, most often seen in babies and young children. It may begin like a cold, then develop into a cough, faster breathing, feeding difficulties, crackly breathing or wheeze. Swelling and mucus narrow these already small airways, which is why the breathing sound may be heard when the child breathes out.

The sound itself does not show how hard a child is working to breathe. Watch the child’s effort, alertness, colour and ability to feed or drink rather than relying on the noise alone.

Offer small, frequent feeds or drinks and keep the child comfortably upright while awake. A blocked nose can make feeding harder, so gentle saline drops may help if suitable for the child’s age and used as directed. Keep them away from smoke. Check them regularly, including during sleep, for changes in breathing or intake.

Get urgent medical help if a child has pauses in breathing, severe work of breathing, ribs pulling in, grunting, blue or grey lips, unusual sleepiness, or is unable to take enough fluid. Contact a clinician promptly if breathing is getting worse, wet nappies are much less frequent, or you are concerned about a very young baby or a child with a heart, lung or immune condition.

Ask how to recognise increasing breathing effort, how much feeding or drinking is enough for your child, and which symptoms mean you should seek care immediately. Tell the clinician about premature birth, previous breathing problems and any long-term health conditions.