What Is Bronchiolitis?
Bronchiolitis is a common condition
affecting babies and young children. It is caused by an
inflammation of the small airways in the lungs called the
bronchioles, which restricts the amount of air able to enter the
lungs, making it more difficult for the child to breathe.
Babies at greater risk of developing severe bronchiolitis
include premature babies and babies with heart or lung
conditions.In most cases it is not a severe illness, however, 3% of
babies who are under one year of age and have bronchiolitis are
admitted to hospital every year in the UK.
What's The Difference Between Bronchitis And
Bronchiolitis should not be confused with bronchitis.
Bronchitis is a condition that affects both adults and children.
It occurs when an infection causes the bronchi (the larger airways
in the lungs) to become irritated and swollen (inflamed), which
causes more mucus production than usual. The body will try to get
rid of this extra mucus through coughing.
Bronchiolitis is an inflammation of the bronchioles (the small
airways in the lungs), which causes breathing difficulties.
How Common Is Bronchiolitis?
It is estimated that one in three babies in the UK develop
bronchiolitis in the first year of their life.The condition is most
common in young children who are three to six months
The timing of the bronchiolitis season slightly varies in the UK
from year to year but it usually occurs during the winter months,
from October to March, when the viruses that can cause
bronchiolitis are more common.It is also possible to develop
bronchiolitis more than once during the same winter season.
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AXSYN110959m(2) - 27 August 2013