As parents, seeing your child suffer from infection is the worst experience, which is why it is very important that you keep an eye on your child’s health at all times. Parents must ensure that children are well-protected on cold days, especially in winter. During this time, viruses are active. One of the viruses, which is the respiratory syncytial virus, is responsible for bronchiolitis.
If you are looking for a pediatrician in Lubbock to check your baby’s health, visit Dr. Alami’s Kids. Our services include pediatric sick visits for child sick visits in Lubbock, as well as pediatric sick visits in Lubbock. Check your kids for a runny nose or mild cough. Your baby might be suffering from bronchiolitis.
What is Bronchiolitis?
Bronchiolitis is an infection in the lung triggered by the RSV or respiratory syncytial virus. It causes the production of mucus and swelling in the minor breathing tubes of your baby’s lungs. This type of infection is usually acquired by children under 2 years old during cold and winter times.
It is more common in premature babies, males, and children who are bottle-feeding and have not breastfed. This viral infection usually happens in congested settings. The symptoms of this infection can linger from several days to weeks. However, the majority of the cases show that children recover from this infection even at home.
Causes
This viral infection is often spread from the secretions of a person who has a respiratory syncytial virus. It could be from an infant suffering from bronchiolitis or an adult with a common cold. Bronchiolitis affects children ages 2 years old and below. Viruses like adenovirus and influenza could also cause bronchiolitis.
Babies with ages ranging between 2 and 12 months usually develop this type of viral infection. Older children could be infected with a respiratory syncytial virus. However, they do not progress to bronchiolitis. Their symptoms are the same as that of common colds. This includes wheezing, runny nose, and a mild cough.
Signs and Symptoms
As soon as your child develops this type of viral infection, the symptoms could manifest after several days. It starts with a mild cough, a stuffy or runny nose, and an extremely high fever usually more than 100.4 degrees. A few days after, the cough worsens and becomes persistent. Your child could show RSV symptoms such as difficulty in breathing and wheezing.
Another symptom is a pause between breaths that last between 15 and 20 seconds. The problem with breathing could trigger difficulty in feeding that could lead to dehydration. The cough could linger for a couple of weeks while wheezing often lasts for a week.
You should see your pediatrician if you notice that your baby is having difficulty breathing. Your baby is having difficulty in breathing if he is breathing more rapidly than usual, or from 60 to 80 times per minute. Other indicators include retracting muscles in the middle of the ribs or at the base of the neck.
Prevention
Proper hygiene like regular hand washing is the best way to prevent bronchiolitis. Also, do not share your baby’s drinking cups and eating utensils with someone who has a runny nose, fever, or cold. It is also important that you keep your child away from anyone suffering from cold, stuffy or runny nose, or fever. To further lower the risk of getting the respiratory syncytial virus, especially for high-risk patients, an injection of Palivizumab is recommended.
When to Seek Help
The majority of babies suffering from bronchiolitis get well even at home. However, approximately three percent are hospitalized for proper monitoring and treatment. If you see signs of the infection getting worse, get emergency care immediately. If you need a pediatrician in Lubbock, visit Dr. Alami’s Kids. If you would like to schedule an appointment for pediatric sick visits, sick child visits in Lubbock or pediatric sick visits in Lubbock, call our office or visit our website.
Complications
Severe bronchiolitis could cause various complications. These could also mean that the infection has grown worse. This includes the following:
- Cyanosis or manifestation of a blue tinge on your baby’s skin
- Faster breathing or 15 to 20 seconds pause in breathing
- Apparent tiredness from trying to breathe
- Inability to breathe
- Severe coughing
- If your baby is recovering at home but refuses drinking or eating, is not urinating, or coughs hard and vomits, call your doctor immediately. Have your child checked by a pediatrician if he has a fever 100.4 degrees fever or higher and is not older than 3 months old.
If your child is hospitalized, treatments could include IV fluids, supplemental oxygen, and chest physiotherapy. If your baby has difficulty breathing, some doctors recommend regular suctioning. In addition, to prevent the virus from spreading, your baby will be placed in isolation. Siblings, relatives, and friends will not be allowed to visit.
If you are looking for a trusted pediatrician Lubbock to take care of your baby’s health, visit Dr. Alami’s Kids. You can set up an appointment by calling us at (806) 792-8922 or visiting our website for pediatric sick visits for kids.. Our team specializes in pediatric sick visits in Lubbock and child sick visits in Lubbock.