21/04/2026
😮💨❄️ BE AWARE !
BRONCHIOLITIS SEASON IS HERE!
If your baby has a runny nose that suddenly turns into a chesty cough and fast breathing…
👉 this could be bronchiolitis.
This is a very common winter illness, but in young babies, it can become VERY SERIOUS quickly.
🫁 What is bronchiolitis?
It’s a viral infection of the small airways in the lungs.
👶 Most common in:
• Babies
• Infants
• Children under 2
👉 The younger the baby, the higher the risk.
🦠 What causes it?
The most common cause is:
• RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus)
But other viruses can also cause it.
👉 It spreads easily through:
• Coughing & sneezing
• Hands of caregivers
⚠️ If your child has symptoms, keep them home from crèche/daycare.
📈 How it usually starts
1️⃣ Starts like a normal cold
(runny/blocked nose)
2️⃣ After 3–5 days:
• Moves into the chest
• Wet, phlegmy cough
• Wheezing or rattling breathing
• Sometimes fever
🚨 When to worry and contact your paediatrician
Seek urgent care if your baby has:
• Fast or difficult breathing
• Chest pulling in when breathing
• Struggling to feed
• Vomiting feeds
• Very sleepy or weak
• Lips or tongue looking pale or blue
👉 These are signs your baby needs medical care urgently
🏥 Why some babies need hospital
In hospital, babies can receive:
• Oxygen
• IV fluids if not feeding
• Close monitoring
• Nebulisation treatments
• Support if breathing becomes difficult
• Physiotherapy
👉 Early treatment can prevent serious complications.
🛡️ Prevention tips
• Have ALL babies under one year vaccinated against the RSV during winter.
• Avoid crèche for babies under 6 months in winter if possible
• Wash hands regularly
• Keep sick contacts away
• Avoid smoke exposure
💡 There is a preventative injection for all babies. (Beyfortus for babies and Abrysvo for pregnant women between 28 and 36 weeks)
It could save your baby’s life!
Babies that are premature or have heart/lung conditions are at an extremely high risk of serious complications due to bronchiolitis
💊 Treatment
There is no single “cure”, but treatment focuses on:
• Reducing inflammation
• Helping breathing
• Clearing phlegm
• Preventing dehydration
• Treating secondary infections if present
Your baby may cough for weeks after bronchiolitis, this is common.
Some children may also have recurrent wheezing for a while after.
RSV bronchiolitis increases the risk of developing asthma and COPD ( Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) later in life
💬 Has your baby ever had bronchiolitis or perhaps have it now? Act fast before it gets worse
Dr Willem Smit
Paediatrician
