Bronchiolitis is most common in infants and young children under two years old. Because the trachea of ​​infants and young children is narrower than that of adults, when infected with respiratory viruses, the virus can easily reach the bronchioles at the end of the trachea, causing swelling and inflammation of the tracheal mucosa. In more severe cases, it can cause phlegm to accumulate and block the airway, resulting in difficulty breathing.

Symptoms of bronchiolitis

Bronchiolitis is mainly caused by respiratory synthetic viruses (RSV influenza) or influenza viruses. Its peak incidence is from autumn to spring each year. Initially, the symptoms are similar to a cold, including runny nose, cough, and fever. After about 3 or 4 days, the baby's cough worsens, and may even develop wheezing and rapid breathing. This is because the baby's trachea is infected and inflamed.

In addition, because babies do not yet have the ability to cough up phlegm on their own, when a large amount of phlegm blocks the trachea, babies are prone to spitting up milk, loss of appetite, and other symptoms. If parents are careless, the child may even turn purple or suffocate, which is extremely dangerous.

Home care methods

When a baby has symptoms such as a runny nose and cough, parents should take him to see a doctor immediately. If it is confirmed that he has bronchiolitis, the following points should be noted in terms of care:

1. When your baby is sleeping, you can use a pillow to elevate their head to prevent nasal congestion and reduce the risk of breathing difficulties.

2. In terms of prevention, avoid taking your baby to crowded places, and give your baby more fruits and vegetables and foods containing vitamin C to enhance their resistance, which can reduce the chance of your baby getting respiratory infections.

3. Because a baby's trachea is narrow, if there is phlegm blocking the airway, do not try to clear the phlegm, as this may further obstruct the airway. Instead, give the child expectorant medication prescribed by a doctor.

4. Babies tend to lose fluids easily when coughing and vomiting. Give them plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration.

5. If a child has a poor appetite, do not force-feed them to avoid vomiting.