Bronchiolitis

Dennis E. Hughes, DO, FAAFP, FACEP Reviewed 06/2019

BASICS

DESCRIPTION

Inflammation and obstruction of small airways and reactive airways generally affecting infants and young children—upper respiratory infection (URI) prodrome followed by increased res...

DIAGNOSIS

History and physical examination should be the basis for the diagnosis of bronchiolitis; ancillary testing only indicated if clinical picture is unclear (no single of group of tests confirma...

TREATMENT

The cornerstone of therapy is supportive to include upper airway suctioning, prevention of significant and prolonged hypoxia, and dehydration. The other interventions noted have historically...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

Patient Monitoring

Hospitalization is usually required only if oxygen is a requirement or unable to feed/drink.
For a hospitalized patient, monitor as needed depend...

REFERENCES

Chao JH, Lin RC, Marneni S, et al. Predictors of airspace disease on chest x-ray in emergency department patients with bronchiolitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Acad Emerg Med....

ADDITIONAL READING

Smith DK, Seales S, Budzik C. Respiratory syncytial virus bronchiolitis in children. Am Fam Physician. 2017;95(2):94–99. [View Abstract on OvidMedline]

CODES

ICD10

J21.9 Acute bronchiolitis, unspecified
J21.0 Acute bronchiolitis due to respiratory syncytial virus
J21.8 Acute bronchiolitis due to other specified organisms
J21.1 Acute bronchiolitis due to ...

CLINICAL PEARLS

Bronchiolitis is the leading cause of hospitalizations in infants and children—especially <3 months of age.
Diagnosis is a clinical one of children in the first 2 years of life, asso...

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