Your child has bronchiolitis and you want to know how to relieve it? If the symptoms do not improve, when should you consult again? Futura takes stock of the subject.
After the consultation with the doctor, the diagnosis fell, it is bronchiolitis. If it is the first time for your child, no additional examination (x-ray of the lungs) is necessary. Here are some tips to relieve the child and the warning signs to know.
Nose washes are the mainstay of treatment for bronchiolitis. This is especially important before meals and before putting the child to bed. Babies under 6 months breathe only through their nose and are not able to breathe through their mouth: it is even more necessary at this age. When the child is awake, keep him in an upright position to help him breathe better: raise the back of his stroller, install him in a baby carrier… It is also possible to raise his mattress to make him sleep, while lying it on its back.
If you are a smoker, you should never expose your child to cigarette smoke. This is even more true if he has bronchiolitis. Passive smoking is very bad for the bronchi of babies, it can aggravate the disease and promote frequent relapses. Regarding hydration, it is recommended to regularly offer the child something to drink. It may be necessary to split his meals, especially if he is very tired.
What drug treatment?
If the child has a fever, it should not be covered too much. It is possible to give paracetamol by respecting the dosages according to the weight of the child and the recommendations of the doctor. The room must be ventilated frequently and must not be overheated, 19° maximum.
Respiratory physiotherapy is no longer recommended if it is a first episode, except in special situations. No cough treatment is recommended. Antitussives, expectorants or bronchial thinners are even contraindicated in children under 2 years of age. Antibiotics are of no use in the management of bronchiolitis because it is related to a virus.
When should you consult again?
The child should be watched carefully, especially during the first two days. The warning signs are a beating of the wings of the nose, intercostal indrawing, very rapid breathing, a significant rise in temperature. We speak of “signs of struggle”. Moreover, if you can no longer feed him or make him drink, it is necessary to consult again. Similarly, if his behavior is unusual, he shows signs of significant discomfort or if, on the contrary, he is totally absent, it is better to consult again or a minima take an opinion by telephone with your attending physician or the child’s pediatrician.
