• Signs of dehydration: Sometimes the disease causes dehydration when the child coughs too much to absorb fluid through the mouth. In this case, the baby may be irritable, have a dry tongue and lips, cry without tears, and stop urinating.
• During the next two to five days: fever, cough wheezing, difficult and rapid.
• Warning signs: a cold with heavy runny nose, sneezing, rather dry cough, mild fever, refusal to eat.
• Signs of aggravation:

– the flapping of the wings of the nose

– the draw

– rapid breathing

– an accelerated heart rate

– bluish discoloration of the skin, nails and lips caused by lack of oxygen (rare and severe);

– crackling rales (during inspiration, a succession of dry noises is heard).

NB The child may be wheezing but not bothering the child too much. He eats and sleeps without problem. In such a case it may be thought that the presentation is more benign. The doctor will most often diagnose bronchiolitis based on symptoms, vital signs including oximetry and physical examination. Blood tests or x-rays are not done routinely.