Bronchiolitis

Acute bronchiolitis is a common viral chest infection. It frequently affects infants aged one or younger, and is most often occurs in autumn and winter. The infection causes the small tubes in the lungs (bronchioles) to become inflamed and narrowed by swelling and mucus, leading to difficulty breathing, fast breathing, wheezing and poor feeding.

There is variation in clinical care for infants who present to hospital, but there is a clear evidence base to guide clinical investigation and management of children presenting with bronchiolitis.