About Bronchiolitis
Bronchiolitis is quite a common infection of the respiratory system. In this condition, the bronchioles get affected. Bronchioles are small airways that go all the way to the lungs. As a result of the inflammation of the bronchioles the affected individual will have problems with breathing and will have a persistent productive cough.
Bronchiolitis most commonly affects children as their airways are still in developing stage and tend to get blocked easily. Bronchiolitis occurs normally within the first two years of the child’s life and is seen in premature babies or babies who live in a crowded environment.
Since bronchiolitis is a viral infection, the offending virus is the Respiratory Syncytial Virus or RSV. A child with bronchiolitis will exhibit symptoms that are quite similar to a common cold like a runny nose, fever, chills, and cough. As the condition advances, the child will have problems breathing with persistent productive cough and an audible wheezing.
Bronchiolitis is a condition which can be detected and treated early enough but how long the symptoms last is what has been delineated below in the article.
How Long Does Bronchiolitis Last For?
In majority of the cases, the symptoms of bronchiolitis last for a maximum of two weeks after which the symptoms start to fade away. However, children with severe or advanced cases of bronchiolitis have cough and wheezing for up to three to four weeks post treatment.
Bronchiolitis peaks within the first two days of its onset and this is when the coughing starts. By the fifth or the sixth day, the child will have problems with breathing and will have an audible wheezing after which the symptoms start to fade away.
A physician consultation is recommended in cases where the child appears dehydrated or fatigued and is slow to respond. In such cases, a hospitalization may be required for administration of intravenous medication for treatment of bronchiolitis. In extremely rare cases, a child needs artificial respirators to assist in breathing in cases of Bronchiolitis.
Also Read:
- Bronchiolitis Obliterans Organizing Pneumonia or BOOP Disease: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, Prognosis
- Bronchiolitis: Causes, Who is at Risk, Symptoms, Treatment, Home Remedies, Prevention
- Bronchiolitis Vs Bronchitis: Differences Based on Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, Prognosis, Risk Factors and Diagnosis
