Bronchiolitis

Bronchiolitis is inflammation of the bronchioles - the small tubes at the end of the bronchi, leading to the alveoli. It affects children under 1 year of age and is usually caused by infection with a germ called respiratory syncitial virus. It can produce severe symptoms with rapid breathing, fever, high pulse rate and increased respiratory effort in a sick infant. There is no treatment other than humidified oxygen - recovery usually occurs after a week or two, though some children suffer attacks of cough and wheeze into late childhood.
 
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