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Treatment of Bronchiolitis

Bronchiolitis is usually mild and can be treated at home, with the advice of a GP.  If the child has a fever, liquid paracetamol may be used to lower the temperature and ease discomfort, which will help the child to feed and sleep normally.  Your GP may also advise you to temporarily increase humidity in the child’s bedroom, by placing a wet towel or bowl of water close to a source of heat such as a radiator.  This may help the child to breathe more easily.

If the child is having persistent problems breathing freely, your GP may prescribe a bronchodilator, a type of inhaler that delivers measured doses of drugs that widen the airways.

Very rarely, the child may have to be treated in hospital, especially if they have severe breathing difficulties.  They will usually need to be given bronchodilator drugs and intravenous fluid (fluid given through a tube directly into a vein), to reduce the risk of dehydration.  If the child has cyanosis, they may need to receive extra oxygen through a mask.

Premature babies with bronchiolitis may be given antiviral drugs to treat the infection and may sometimes need assistance breathing from a mechanical ventilator.

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