CAUSE
The cause is RSV (respiratory syncytial virus). Other viruses that cause bronchiolitis are the parainfluenza, influenza and adenovirus. The virus is transmitted through saliva splashes. Although in adults RSV causes only mild symptoms, but in infants can cause severe disease.

Risk factor for bronchiolitis:

• Younger than 6 months
• Never breastfed
• Premature
• Inhalation of cigarette smoke.

SYMPTOMS
Symptoms include:
– cough
– Wheezing (wheezing breath sounds)
– Shortness of breath or respiratory distress
– Cyanosis (bluish skin color from lack of oxygen)
– Takipneu (rapid breathing)
– Intercostal retractions (the muscles between the ribs are interested in because the baby is trying hard to breathe)
– Nostril breathing (flaring nostrils flower)
– Fever (in infants younger, fever is less common).

Diagnosis
Diagnosis based on symptoms and physical examination. On examination with a stethoscope audible wheezing and rhonchi. Other tests are chest X-rays and blood gas analysis.

TREATMENT
Sometimes it does not need to be given special treatment.

Supportive therapy consists of:
– Provision of oxygen
– The air is humid,
– Postural Drainage or pat the chest to remove mucus
– Get plenty of rest
– Giving fluids.

Sometimes babies become tired and suffered a apneu (stopping breathing). If this happens, performed intubation and ventilator installation. At a very young infants and the severely ill, sometimes given anti-viral drug ribavirin. These drugs can reduce the severity of the disease and to be effective must be administered early in the disease.

Prognosis
After a week, usually an infection will subside and respiratory symptoms will improve on the third day. The mortality rate of less than 1%. The most critical period is the first 48-72 hours. Re rare bronchiolitis.

PREVENTION
Some precautions in bronchiolitis:

• Do not carry a baby aged less than 3 months into a public place, especially if many of the children
• Patients with respiratory tract infections should wash hands or use a mask if close to the baby.