What is Bronchiolitis?
Bronchiolitis is a common respiratory infection, especially in young children, characterised by inflammation and congestion in the small airways (bronchioles) of the lungs. This condition is primarily caused by viral infections such as RSV, common cold and flu.
Many people will recover from bronchiolitis with no difficulties, however babies, toddlers, those with weakened immune systems due to long-term health conditions and the elderly can suffer with wheezing or laboured breathing which can result in needing treatment in hospital.
A Mum’s story
Carolyn, a mum from Newport talks about her experience of her two-year-old son, William being hospitalised with bronchiolitis last year.
“He had been suffering from a usual cough and cold which we were treating at home and on the whole he seemed fine in himself. The day before he was hospitalised, William had gone off his food and didn’t seem 100%, he had a really disturbed sleep that night and from about 2am seemed really unsettled and was crying which was unusual for him.
“I took him to the doctors the next morning who said he is struggling with his breathing and referred me straight to the Grange. The GP was amazing, she rang the Grange to make them aware we were on our way and also rang me later that day to see how he was.
“When we got to the Grange, we were taken through straight away where he was treated immediately. They gave him 2/3 nebulisers before his breathing was less laboured.
“We were admitted and he was given an inhaler initially every hour. We were discharged late afternoon the next day when he was able to cope with having the inhaler every 4 hours.
“I was surprised how quickly he went downhill and I also didn’t expect him to be hospitalised at 2 years old, I assumed that if he was going to have complications with his breathing it would have happened to him as a baby.
“I was very keen for William to have his flu vaccine this year to hopefully give him a bit more protection, so hopefully we don’t have to go through that again.
“There is also now an RSV vaccine available for pregnant women which is amazing news, I would have absolutely had this when I was pregnant to help protect William, the thought that what we experienced can now potentially be prevented is amazing”.
Find out more about the RSV Vaccine
Are you 28 weeks pregnant or more? Get your RSV vaccine by speaking to your midwife and get yourself booked in. More information can be found here: RSV Vaccination for pregnant women - Aneurin Bevan University Health Board (nhs.wales)
Watch our latest podcast to find out how you can help ease pressure on our services and support our NHS this winter: https://shows.acast.com/66460edfb9914900120e37cd/6728a08e5e15233c406556d5