Contents
Bronchiolitis is a highly contagious viral disease which affects, each winter, about 30% of infants under the age of 2, half of infected children having less than 6 months. Boys make up about 60% of babies with bronchiolitis. It is an acute inflammation of the bronchioles (small bronchi), which often progresses to respiratory distress.
Le respiratory syncitial virus (RSV) is the main infectious agent of this disease. Bronchiolitis is a infection typical of winter: it begins around mid october to end in February. A peak is often recorded in December.
Bronchiolitis or bronchitis, what’s the difference?
Bronchiolitis is inflammation of the bronchioles (endings of the airways bronchi), very common in infants and can lead to hospitalization for respiratory distress, while bronchitis is an inflammation of the bronchi, generally not serious.
A highly contagious virus with symptoms of cough and fever
Bronchiolitis can start with coldwhich worsens rapidly with signs of difficulty breathing. Babe hard drink her milk. A dry cough settles down and becomes more and more oily, which causes significant congestion and respiratory discomfort. The cough can last for 2 to 3 weeks. The child presents a wheezing, the moderate fever, a tired, even exhaustion.
« In children under one year old with a new immune system, this virus can invade in depth the respiratory tract, up to small bronchi, and lead to difficulty breathing that must be taken seriously », Explains Dr Sebban, pediatrician and coordinator of the Bronchiolitis Ile-de-France network.
At the announcement of first symptoms, it is recommended consult as soon as possible doctor. The sooner your child is taken care of, the more likely he or she will be treated at home: 95% of babies with bronchiolitis will not go to the hospital.
Infant bronchiolitis: when should you take your baby to the emergency room for hospitalization?
Most often, hospitalization is not necessary. But it imposes itself in certain cases : if the infant is less than 3 months old, for example, or suffers from a pathology. The following signs should also alert you: the baby has trouble breathing, no longer takes his bottles, throws up systematically, has diarrhea, ne there plus… In all of these situations, you must take him to the Emergency.
Treatments: how to treat bronchiolitis in babies?
« On the treatment side, corticosteroids and bronchodilators are useless, explains Dr Sebban. No more than antibiotics (except in cases of superinfection). And we must banish cough suppressants and bronchial thinners. Cough is a symptom that must be respected, especially in the context of bronchiolitis. »
Since November 2019, the HAS (Haute Autorité de Santé) advises against traditional respiratory physiotherapy techniques such as “clapping” or vibration for example. The technique of increased expiratory flow (AFE) is not effective in the management of infants hospitalized with acute bronchiolitis. As it has not been proven to be effective for forms of bronchiolitis treated on an outpatient basis either, it is therefore not recommended. However, the HAS and the CNPP stress the need to continue research and conduct studies to measure the impact of this technique, in particular on the use of hospitalizations.
Treatment is mainly based on washing the nose and keeping the child under close supervision. It is a painless gesture which consists in instilling serum in the nostrils to evacuate the nasal secretions. Objective: to optimize the infant’s breathing and relieve it.
In most cases, bronchiolitis is cured by 5 10 days in about.
Baby has bronchiolitis: how to relieve it?
Here are some simple tips for relieve your baby, help him breathe better, and avoid contagion with other children:
- Aerate regularly the baby’s room, do not overheat it;
- No smoking in the presence of her baby and not to take her to smoky places;
- Continue to to put your baby on his back, and put a cushion under the mattress to tilt it slightly;
- Give him to drink regularly;
- Split his meals;
- Wash your nose with physiological serum, several times a day, preferably before meals;
- Make sure your baby is feeding properly and taking his bottles properly;
- Monitor his breathing, temperature and absence of diarrhea;
- Wash hands with soap before and after treatment;
- Do not drop off your baby at the nursery until the symptoms have stopped.
The pediatrician’s advice
« The rhino of the largest is potentially the bronchiolitis of the smallest! So we wash our hands well and keep in mind the fragility of the infant. In winter, avoid supermarkets and crowded places. » Dr Sebban
How can you prevent your baby from getting bronchiolitis?
Bronchiolitis can be transmitted directly, from person to person (sneezing, cough…). Or by the contact with an object contaminated by the virus (on a toy, pacifier, soft toy, etc.).
here are some simple gestures to avoid putting baby in contact with the respiratory syncitial virus (RSV), which causes the infection:
- Ne pas kiss her baby when you have nasopharyngitis or bronchitis, and wear a mask when we take care of him;
- Ask his brothers, sisters and members of the entourage to avoid kissing him;
- Clean your nose regularly with physiological serum;
- Use disposable tissues ;
- Do not take your child to places where there is a risk of coming into contact with people with Infectious diseases (public transport, supermarkets, etc.);
- All right wash one’s hands with soap before taking care of him.