Bronchiolitis is a common infection of the lower respiratory tract that affects babies and young children under 2 years old.
It is almost always caused by a viral infection. In most cases, the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is responsible.
It is most common from November to March but due to the COVID-19 pandemic it may occur anytime, it can occur more than once during this period; almost all children are infected with it by the time they're 2 years old.
Symptoms include:
- rapid or noisy breathing (wheezing)
- a rasping and persistent dry cough
- brief pauses in their breathing
- feeding less/fussy feeding
- having fewer wet nappies
- vomiting after feeding
- being generally unsettled.