Bronchiolitis, not to be confused with the more common bronchitis, is a condition that affects the lungs. It is typically caused by a virus that enters the body and causes inflammation and irritation in the bronchioles of the lungs. In most cases, bronchiolitis causes breathing difficulties, a cough, and a wheezing or whistling noise when you breathe.
Bronchiolitis is most common among children, but it can happen to anyone at any age. In most cases, people with bronchiolitis get better on their own or with treatment at home, but some cases require a hospital stay. Bronchiolitis often resolves in one to two weeks, much like the common cold. Treatment may be necessary to speed up the process or to ensure that bronchiolitis goes away without causing any long-term complications.
However, treating bronchiolitis is difficult because it is caused by a virus. As such, antibiotics and other medications used to treat bacterial infections are ineffective. Bronchodilators, which are used to open the airways, also are not effective because of how the condition affects the bronchioles.
One treatment that is effective at helping with bronchiolitis is the use of a nebulizer. A nebulizer utilizes salbutamol that gets converted into a mist and is then pumped into the lungs of a child with bronchiolitis. The mist helps relax the airways, which can reduce inflammation and irritation and make it easier to breathe.
In severe cases, your doctor may recommend antivirals to help with bronchiolitis since it is a viral infection. Antivirals are medications that you take orally or via an IV that get into your lungs and kill the virus from the inside out. Oseltamivir and peramivir are two commonly used antivirals to treat bronchiolitis.
In most cases, antivirals are not necessary nor recommended because of their side effects. These side effects can include nausea, vomiting, headaches, diarrhoea, dizziness, stomach aches, and much more. Therefore, it is best to see if bronchiolitis will go away on its own before taking antivirals.
Antipyretics are anti-fever and anti-pain medications that you can receive over the counter. Most common antipyretics do not require a prescription and are readily available at your local pharmacy or grocery store. Common antipyretics include ibuprofen, Tylenol, and Advil. In addition to helping reduce your fever, antipyretics can also take away the pain and discomfort that is common with bronchiolitis.
While antibiotics do not help speed up the course of bronchiolitis or ease the symptoms, it can help prevent a lung infection. Bronchiolitis has the potential to cause these types of infections, so your doctor may recommend antibiotics, such as erythromycin or azithromycin.
In rare extreme cases, bronchiolitis can affect the lungs so badly that your child is unable to breathe on their own. When this happens, they will need an assisted breathing device, such as a nasal cannula or a ventilator. However, these are last-ditch and worst-case-scenario treatments that rarely, if ever, have to be used.
In addition to medical treatments, there are many home remedies that can help ease the symptoms of bronchiolitis. While home remedies cannot cure your condition, they make the symptoms manageable and make it easier to breathe.
In most cases, time and home remedies are all that are necessary to take care of your bronchiolitis. The condition often resolves in one to two weeks without causing any long-term or life-threatening damage. However, if your child is showing significant signs of breathing difficulties, you should take them to the doctor immediately. More invasive treatment may be necessary.