Symptoms
The symptoms of bronchiolitis can vary from mild to severe and may develop slowly over a few days. Common symptoms include:
- Runny nose
- Cough
- Rapid breathing or wheezing
- Chest retractions, when the skin between the ribs pulls in with each breath
- Fatigue or decreased activity
- Rapid heartbeat
- Fever (although this is not always present)
- Loss of appetite
- Difficulty feeding (especially in infants)
In severe cases, children with bronchiolitis may have difficulty breathing, need to work hard to breathe, and may have a bluish tint to their skin, lips, and nails due to low oxygen levels.
Causes
Bronchiolitis is caused by a viral infection, most commonly by the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Other viruses that can cause bronchiolitis include the human parainfluenza virus, adenovirus, and human metapneumovirus. The virus is highly contagious and can spread through close contact with infected individuals, coughing or sneezing, or touching contaminated surfaces and then touching one's mouth or nose.