What does fever feel like with bronchiolitis?

In a baby or young child, fever may show as a warm chest or back, flushed skin, sweating, unsettled behaviour or unusual sleepiness. The child may feed less, have fewer wet nappies, and develop a runny nose, cough, wheeze or faster breathing. Bronchiolitis affects the small airways, so breathing effort and feeding are often more useful clues than how hot the skin feels.

Offer smaller, more frequent feeds and keep the child upright while awake. Clear visible nasal mucus gently if it interferes with feeding. Keep the room comfortably cool, avoid smoke, and check the child regularly, including during sleep. Use only age-appropriate medicines and follow advice from a healthcare professional; do not give a child aspirin.

Seek emergency help if the child has pauses in breathing, blue or grey lips, severe pulling in beneath the ribs, grunting, extreme sleepiness, or cannot feed because of breathlessness. Get prompt medical advice for noticeably fewer wet nappies, repeated vomiting, worsening breathing, or a child who appears seriously unwell. Young infants and children with underlying heart or lung problems need particular caution.

Ask how to count wet nappies, what breathing effort to watch for, which fluids and medicines are suitable, and when the child should be reassessed.