Acute Bronchiolitis

What is bronchiolitis?

Bronchiolitis is an acute inflammatory disease that affects the tiniest branches of the bronchial tree—bronchioles. They have a tubular structure and function as gas conduits. Alveoli follow them, serving as the primary structural units of the lungs. They play a crucial role in pulmonary tissue function, namely gas exchange (exchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen).

Local inflammation involving bronchioles leads to mucus retention and narrowing of their lumens. This results in a decrease in the amount of oxygen entering the blood through the alveoli. The most common cause of bronchiolitis is various infectious agents, with viruses making up the majority.

Although the condition can affect people of any age, acute bronchiolitis typically occurs in young children. For older children and adults, the infectious process usually affects larger respiratory pathways, and there is better adaptation to mucous membrane swelling.

Since bronchiolitis typically affects children under 2 years of age, the treatment plan should always be appropriate. Therefore, among healthcare professionals, there are certain disagreements regarding the use of different groups of medications.

Treatment in Switzerland involves applying advanced knowledge in the field of the respiratory system for both children and adults. When treating bronchiolitis, doctors in best clinics in Switzerland use only

evidence-Factors that increase the risk of acute bronchiolitis include:

• Newborns, especially preterm ones
• Infants of early age (1-3 months) due to low immunity
• Children who attend community settings
• Children with underlying conditions (cardiac/respiratory/allergic/neurological/renal)

Diagnosis:

Typical symptoms such as coughing and wheezing in an infant often allow for the diagnosis upon examination. Monitoring the child's breathing is crucial. To assess this, you can expose the upper part of the child's body. If the child is having difficulty breathing, you may notice the skin under the throat and between the ribs being pulled in during inhalation. Additionally, the child usually breathes faster than usual. Children with such breathing difficulties should be seen by a doctor as soon as possible.

During the examination, the severity of breathing difficulties and your overall condition are assessed. The lungs are listened to with a stethoscope, usually sufficient for diagnosis. Oxygen saturation can also be measured. In rare cases, bacterial infections are ruled out through blood tests.

For most infected individuals, symptoms are so mild that they can be treated at home. Hospitalization may be considered for serious breathing problems. Children with other chronic conditions should be treated in outpatient settings. For others, exhaustion from rapid breathing is sometimes a reason for hospitalization.

Treatment includes:

1. Patient positioning—lying on their back with the torso elevated.
2. Fluid intake—oral; in bronchiolitis, there is a risk of dehydration due to inadequate food intake, rapid breathing, and vomiting. Hyperhydration should also be avoided, as it can worsen bronchial obstruction.
3. Oxygen therapy—is recommended for patients with hypoxemia (SpO2 <95%) or respiratory failure.
4. Nasopharyngeal secretion aspiration—is recommended for patients with upper respiratory tract secretions or apnea; performed before feeding, before inhalation therapy, and as needed; 0.9% sodium chloride nasal solutions can be used before aspiration.
5. Bronchodilators—are recommended for severe cases.
6. Systemic corticosteroids—are recommended for severe cases.
7. Antipyretics—Paracetamol at 10-15 mg/kg every 4-6 hours; Ibuprofen at 5-10 mg/kg every 6-8 hours.
8. Mechanical ventilation—is required in a small percentage of cases.

Prognosis for uncomplicated cases is favorabl

Recovery occurs after a normal course of 3-5 (7) days, depending on the severity.based medicine, promoting the quickest recovery without health consequences for children.