Bronchiolitis

Tests and X-rays are not usually needed to diagnose bronchiolitis. The doctor can usually identify the problem by observing your child and listening to the lungs with a stethoscope.

If your child is at risk of severe bronchiolitis, if symptoms are worsening or if another problem is suspected, your doctor may order tests, including:

Chest X-ray. Your doctor may request a chest X-ray to look for signs of pneumonia.

Viral testing. Your doctor may collect a sample of mucus from your child to test for the virus causing bronchiolitis. This is done using a swab that's gently inserted into the nose.

Blood tests. Occasionally, blood tests might be used to check your child's white blood cell count. An increase in white blood cells is usually a sign that the body is fighting an infection. A blood test can also determine whether the level of oxygen has decreased in your child's bloodstream.

Bronchiolitis typically lasts for two to three weeks. Most children with bronchiolitis can be cared for at home with supportive care. It's important to be alert for changes in breathing difficulty, such as struggling for each breath, being unable to speak or cry because of difficulty breathing, or making grunting noises with each breath.

Because viruses cause bronchiolitis, antibiotics — which are used to treat infections caused by bacteria — aren't effective against it. Bacterial infections such as pneumonia or an ear infection can occur along with bronchiolitis, and your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic for that infection.

Drugs that open the airways (bronchodilators) haven't been found to be routinely helpful and typically aren't given for bronchiolitis. In severe cases, your doctor may elect to try a nebulized albuterol treatment to see if it helps.

Oral corticosteroid medications and pounding on the chest to loosen mucus (chest physiotherapy) have not been shown to be effective treatments for bronchiolitis and are not recommended.