Viral Bronchiolitis Quiz
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Have a fever
Cough
Shortness of breath
It all started with a runny nose
Have wheezing
Face is pale
Skin pale
Not seeing your symptoms? No worries!
What is Viral Bronchiolitis?
It causes swelling and a buildup of mucus in the small airways of the lung called bronchioles. Bronchiolitis is almost always caused by a virus. It starts out with symptoms like a common cold but then it gets worse, causing coughing and a high-pitched whistling sound when breathing out called wheezing. Sometimes children have trouble breathing. Symptoms of bronchiolitis can last for 1 to 2 weeks but occasionally can last longer. It usually occurs in children less than 2 years and most common in babies less than 3 months. Most children get better with care at home. A small number of children need a stay in the hospital.
Typical Symptoms of Viral Bronchiolitis
- Wheezing or whistling sounds when breathing
- Fever
- Bluish or pale skin
- Difficulty breathing
- Cough
- Fingertips swollen like drumsticks
- Runny nose
- Dry cough
Diagnostic Questions for Viral Bronchiolitis
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this disease:
- Do you experience wheezing or whistling sounds when breathing?
- Do you have a fever?
- Do you have any bluish or pale skin?
- Are you experiencing difficulty breathing?
- Do you have a cough?
Treatment of Viral Bronchiolitis
Supportive care and careful monitoring for breathlessness is important. Infants and severe cases may need to be hospitalized for oxygen support or for fluids to be given through a needle in the vein.
Reviewed By:
Unnati Patel, MD, MSc (Family Medicine)
Dr.Patel serves as Center Medical Director and a Primary Care Physician at Oak Street Health in Arizona. She graduated from the Zhejiang University School of Medicine prior to working in clinical research focused on preventive medicine at the University of Illinois and the University of Nevada. Dr. Patel earned her MSc in Global Health from Georgetown University, during which she worked with the WHO in Sierra Leone and Save the Children in Washington, D.C. She went on to complete her Family Medicine residency in Chicago at Norwegian American Hospital before completing a fellowship in Leadership in Value-based Care in conjunction with the Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management, where she earned her MBA. Dr. Patel’s interests include health tech and teaching medical students and she currently serves as Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Arizona School of Medicine.
Eisaku Kamakura, MD (Pulmonology)
Dr. Kamakura graduated from the Tokyo Medical and Dental University, School of Dentistry, and the Niigata University School of Medicine. He trained at Yokosuka Kyosai Hospital and held positions in the Respiratory Medicine departments at Yokosuka Kyosai Hospital, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Ome City General Hospital, and Musashino Red Cross Hospital. In 2021, he became the specially appointed assistant professor at the Department of General Medicine, Niigata University School of Medicine.
Content updated on Mar 31, 2024
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
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People with similar symptoms also use Ubie's symptom checker to find possible causes
- Whistling when I breathe
- Respiratory wheeze
- Numbness in fingers
- Loud breathing
- My body is hot
- Stridor
- Pale skin
- Recurrent fevers
- Shortness of breath when lying down
- Periodic fever (>100.4°F / 38°C)
- Cold hands
- Tickly cough
- Fever then no fever then fever again
- Breathing out is easy but breathing in is difficult
- Cold hands and feet
See full list
Symptoms Related to Viral Bronchiolitis
Diseases Related to Viral Bronchiolitis
FAQs
Q.
Can adults get RSV too, and how serious can it be?
A.
Yes, adults can get RSV, and it can be quite serious, especially for older adults or those with weakened immune systems.
References:
Wildenbeest JG, Lowe DM, Standing JF, & Butler CC. (2024). Respiratory syncytial virus infections in adults: a narrative .... The Lancet. Respiratory medicine, 39265602.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39265602/
Nam HH, & Ison MG. (2019). Respiratory syncytial virus infection in adults - PubMed - NIH. BMJ (Clinical research ed.), 31506273.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31506273/
Estofolete CF, Banho CA, Verro AT, Gandolfi FA, Dos Santos BF, Sacchetto L, et al. (2023). Clinical Characterization of Respiratory Syncytial Virus .... Viruses, 37766255.
Q.
How can you tell the difference between a common cold and RSV?
A.
The common cold and RSV can have similar symptoms, but RSV often causes more severe breathing problems, especially in young children and older adults.
References:
La EM, Bunniran S, Garbinsky D, Reynolds M, Schwab P, Poston S, & Harrington L. (2024). Respiratory syncytial virus knowledge, attitudes, and .... Human vaccines & immunotherapeutics, 38297921.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38297921/
Tyrrell DA, Cohen S, & Schlarb JE. (1993). Signs and symptoms in common colds - PubMed - NIH. Epidemiology and infection, 8394240.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8394240/
Wörner J, Jöhr M, Berger TM, & Christen P. (2009). [Infections with respiratory syncytial virus. Underestimated .... Der Anaesthesist, 19672564.
Q.
How is RSV treated, and are there specific antiviral medicines for it?
A.
RSV treatment mainly involves supportive care, but there are some antiviral medicines being developed to help fight the virus.
References:
Turner TL, Kopp BT, Paul G, Landgrave LC, Hayes D Jr, & Thompson R. (2014). Respiratory syncytial virus: current and emerging treatment .... ClinicoEconomics and outcomes research : CEOR, 24812523.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24812523/
Mejias A, & Ramilo O. (2015). New options in the treatment of respiratory syncytial virus .... The Journal of infection, 25922289.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25922289/
Cockerill GS, Good JAD, & Mathews N. (2019). State of the Art in Respiratory Syncytial Virus Drug .... Journal of medicinal chemistry, 30411898.
Q.
What can parents do at home to help a child recover safely from RSV?
A.
To help a child recover from RSV at home, parents should ensure the child gets plenty of rest, stays hydrated, and is kept away from smoke and other irritants.
References:
Borchers AT, Chang C, Gershwin ME, & Gershwin LJ. (2013). Respiratory syncytial virus--a comprehensive review. Clinical reviews in allergy & immunology, 23575961.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23575961/
Heinonen S, Velazquez VM, Ye F, Mertz S, Acero-Bedoya S, Smith B, et al. (2020). Immune profiles provide insights into respiratory syncytial .... Science translational medicine, 32321862.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32321862/
Kapur N, Nixon G, Robinson P, Massie J, Prentice B, Wilson A, et al. (2020). Respiratory management of infants with chronic neonatal .... Respirology (Carlton, Vic.), 32510776.
Q.
Why is RSV especially serious for infants and older adults?
A.
RSV is especially serious for infants and older adults because their immune systems are either not fully developed or weakened, making it harder for them to fight off the virus.
References:
Kelleher K, Subramaniam N, & Drysdale SB. (2025). The recent landscape of RSV vaccine research. Therapeutic advances in vaccines and immunotherapy, 39802673.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39802673/
Openshaw PJM, Chiu C, Culley FJ, & Johansson C. (2017). Protective and Harmful Immunity to RSV Infection. Annual review of immunology, 28226227.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28226227/
Hall CB, Simőes EA, & Anderson LJ. (2013). Clinical and epidemiologic features of respiratory syncytial .... Current topics in microbiology and immunology, 24362683.
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Link to full study:
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.08.29.24312810v1References
Florin TA, Plint AC, Zorc JJ. Viral bronchiolitis. Lancet. 2017 Jan 14;389(10065):211-224. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(16)30951-5. Epub 2016 Aug 20. PMID: 27549684; PMCID: PMC6765220.
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(16)30951-5/fulltextCaballero MT, Polack FP, Stein RT. Viral bronchiolitis in young infants: new perspectives for management and treatment. J Pediatr (Rio J). 2017 Nov-Dec;93 Suppl 1:75-83. doi: 10.1016/j.jped.2017.07.003. Epub 2017 Aug 30. PMID: 28859915.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0021755717306587?via%3DihubMeissner HC. Viral Bronchiolitis in Children. N Engl J Med. 2016 Jan 7;374(1):62-72. doi: 10.1056/NEJMra1413456. PMID: 26735994.
https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMra1413456Fretzayas A, Moustaki M. Etiology and clinical features of viral bronchiolitis in infancy. World J Pediatr. 2017 Aug;13(4):293-299. doi: 10.1007/s12519-017-0031-8. Epub 2017 May 4. PMID: 28470580; PMCID: PMC7090852.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12519-017-0031-8Bronchiolitis - Mayo Clinic
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bronchiolitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20351565