This is a list of ailments and conditions that may affect you or your family at certain stages of life. Here you will find information such as the symptoms, and the best way to relieve the situation until a medical professional has been called.
Bronchiolitis is infection of the bronchioles, the smallest airways in the lungs. It is a common winter illness, which may be serious. It affects about one in 10 babies under one year old. The usual cause is the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which may be passed on by someone with a cold.
Symptoms include:
A cold
Cough
Fever
Rapid breathing
Wheezing
Feeding problems
In severe cases, the skin may have a bluish tinge (cyanosis) due to shortage of oxygen in the blood.
Medical treatment
Call a doctor or ambulance immediately if your child has breathing difficulty. Some sufferers are admitted to hospital, and usually recover within a week. Others may have wheezing attacks for some time.
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