Bronchiolitis history and symptoms
|
Bronchiolitis Microchapters |
|
Diagnosis |
|---|
|
Treatment |
|
Case Studies |
|
Bronchiolitis history and symptoms On the Web |
|
American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Bronchiolitis history and symptoms |
|
Risk calculators and risk factors for Bronchiolitis history and symptoms |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Alonso Alvarado, M.D. [2]
Overview
Bronchiolitis occurs mainly in infants. The patient usually gives a history of nasal congestion and phlegm discharge. Bronchiolitis's classical presentation is fever, cough, and dyspnea. The virus is transmitted from person to person by direct contact with nasal fluids or by airborne droplets. Although RSV generally causes only mild symptoms in adults, it can cause severe illness in an infant. Bronchiolitis is seasonal and appears more often in the fall and winter months. Bronchiolitis is a very common reason for infants to be hospitalized during winter and early spring. It is estimated that by their first year, more than half of all infants have been exposed to RSV.
History and Symptoms
- Bronchiolitis should be suspected when acute onset of upper respiratory tract infection appears, followed by lower respiratory tract infection symptoms (wheezing, cough, and shortness of breath), in a child younger than 2 years.[1][2]
- The incubation period of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is of 2-8 days; therefore symptoms begin within one week of contact with a symptomatic patient.[3]
- Patients usually start with symptoms of a mild upper respiratory infection which include fever, cough, and nasal discharge.[3]
- Symptoms of lower respiratory tract infection include:[1]
- Fever is usually not high; in the case of high fever, other causes should be ruled out, such as bacterial infections.
- Apnea is a severe manifestation of RSV infection and is more common in children under 3 months of age and premature infants.[3]
- Lethargy is also common, as vomit can be secondary to cough and poor feeding secondary to tachypnea may lead to dehydration.[1]
- History of cyanosis is related to severe disease.[4]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Mandell, Gerald L.; Bennett, John E. (John Eugene); Dolin, Raphael. (2010). Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's principles and practice of infectious disease. Philadelphia, PA: Churchill Livingstone/Elsevier.
- ↑ Florin TA, Plint AC, Zorc JJ (2017). "Viral bronchiolitis". Lancet. 389 (10065): 211–224. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(16)30951-5. PMID 27549684.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Wright M, Mullett CJ, Piedimonte G (2008). "Pharmacological management of acute bronchiolitis". Ther Clin Risk Manag. 4 (5): 895–903. PMC 2621418. PMID 19209271.
- ↑ Smyth RL, Openshaw PJ (2006). "Bronchiolitis". Lancet. 368 (9532): 312–22. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(06)69077-6. PMID 16860701.