When is nebuliser treatment recommended for bronchiolitis?

Bronchiolitis is an infection and inflammation of the small airways, most often in babies and young children. It can cause noisy breathing, cough, feeding difficulty and increased effort when breathing. A nebuliser turns liquid medicine or saline into a mist, but it does not treat every cause of bronchiolitis. Clinicians assess the child's breathing, oxygen level, hydration and ability to feed before choosing support.

Keep the child upright while awake, offer small frequent feeds if they can manage them, and clear visible nasal mucus gently. Do not start nebuliser medicine at home unless it was prescribed with clear instructions. A clinician may recommend observation, oxygen or another approach after examining the child. Read more about [Bronchiolitis](/conditions/bronchiolitis/) and [Nebuliser Treatment](/treatments/acute-and-urgent-care/nebuliser-treatment/).

Seek urgent medical help if the child is struggling to breathe, has pauses in breathing, develops blue or grey lips, is unusually difficult to wake, or cannot take enough fluid. Fewer wet nappies, repeated vomiting or rapidly worsening breathing also need prompt assessment. Do not wait for a nebuliser to become available when breathing looks unsafe.

Ask what is causing the breathing difficulty, whether the child needs oxygen or observation, how to recognise worsening effort, and which feeding or nasal-care measures are suitable at home.