Treatment

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.

Hospital care

A small percentage of children may need hospital care to manage their condition. At the hospital, a child may receive humidified oxygen to maintain sufficient oxygen in the blood, and he or she may receive fluids through a vein (intravenously) to prevent dehydration. In severe cases, a tube may be inserted into the trachea to help the child's breathing.