Bronchiolotis Flashcards
What are the clinical features of Bronchiolitis?
coryzal symptoms (including mild fever) precede:
dry cough
increasing breathlessness
wheezing, fine inspiratory crackles (not always present)
feeding difficulties associated with increasing dyspnoea are often the reason for hospital admission
What is the management of Bronchiolitis?
Bronchiolitis is largely managed supportively.
Nasal Suction: Saline nasal drops followed by bulb suction can clear nasal secretions, especially before feeding.
Oxygen:
- Administer if oxygen saturations consistently fall below 92% in air.
- High-flow nasal cannula or nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) can support those with severe respiratory distress or impending respiratory failure.
Hydration
- Ensure adequate fluid intake. Encourage breastfeeding or bottle-feeding. Smaller, more frequent feeds may be better tolerated by the child with increased respiratory effort.
- If the infant is struggling, nasogastric or orogastric feeding may be used. Intravenous fluids are for those unable to tolerate enteral feeds.
What causes Bronchiolitis?
- Acute bronchiolar inflammation. - Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the pathogen in 75-80% of cases.
