pediatrics
Bronchiolitis
Introduction
Bronchiolitis is an acute viral infection of the lower respiratory tract affecting infants<24 months and is characterized by respiratory distress, wheezing, and/or crackles. Diagnosis is suspected by history, including presentation during a known epidemic; the primary cause, respiratory syncytial virus, can be identified with a rapid assay. Treatment is supportive with oxygen and hydration. Prognosis is generally excellent, but some patients develop apnea or respiratory failure. Bronchiolitis often occurs in epidemics and mostly in children<24 months, with a peak incidence between 2 months and 6 months of age. The annual incidence in the first year of life is about 11 cases/100 children. In the temperate northern hemisphere, most cases occur between November and April, with a peak incidence during January and February. 