What should you know about most common cause of bronchiolitis?

The virus causes swelling and mucus in the small airways. A child may begin with a runny nose, then develop a cough, faster breathing, reduced feeding and wheezing. Symptoms can change over several days, and young infants may show poor feeding or unusual sleepiness rather than a clear cough.

Bronchiolitis is different from asthma and is usually managed with supportive care. A child health consultation can assess breathing, hydration and oxygen levels when symptoms are concerning.

Offer smaller, more frequent feeds and keep the child upright while awake. Clear the nose gently if congestion makes feeding difficult, and keep smoke away from the child. Do not give cough medicines or antibiotics unless a clinician specifically recommends them. A nebuliser is not routinely needed for every child.

Seek urgent help if the child is struggling to breathe, has pauses in breathing, looks blue or grey, is difficult to wake, or takes much less fluid with fewer wet nappies. Infants can deteriorate quickly, so worsening breathing or feeding needs prompt assessment.

Ask how to count breathing, which feeding changes matter, whether your child needs monitoring, and what symptoms should bring you back urgently. Check before using inhalers, nebuliser treatment or fever medicine.