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Bronchiolitis Respiratory Syncytial virus (RSV) causes many types of upper respiratory illnesses in the winter months, especially bronchiolitis. It is notorious for causing remarkable coughing that can last for weeks. Many children with bronchiolitis are diagnosed as having pneumonia. Children, particularly infants, may wheeze like an asthmatic and those under 6 months of age may have such distress from the wheezing and labored breathing, they can’t drink. Children with bronchiolitis may need to be admitted to the hospital so oxygen and intravenous fluids can be given. Since this infection is caused by a virus, antibiotics don’t have a direct benefit. Secondary ear infections or pneumonia can develop. In which case, antibiotics serve a valuable purpose. |
In limited situations, an antiviral drug called Ribaviran™ may be used just for RSV life-threatening infections. It is not recommended for most cases of bronchiolitis, since most children do well and are not bothered by the severe cough or it’s complications.
It may difficult to differentiate RSV from asthma-like illnesses and in some cases asthma medications are tried.