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Bronchiolitis is inflammation of the bronchioles, the smallest air passages of the lungs. It usually occurs in children less than two years of age with the majority being aged between three and six months. It presents with coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath which can cause some children difficulty in feeding. This inflammation is usually caused by respiratory syncytial virus (70% of cases) and is much more common in the winter months. Treatment is typically supportive with oxygen, monitoring, fluid and nutrition perhaps by gastric tube or intravenously. Neutralized hypertonic saline is also useful.〔 There is insufficient evidence to support treatment with antibiotics, surfactant, chest physiotherapy or bronchodilators nebulized epinephrine. Bronchiolitis is common with up to one third of children being affected in their first year of life. == Signs and symptoms == In a typical case, an infant under two years of age develops cough, wheeze, and shortness of breath over one or two days. Crackles and/or wheeze are typical findings on listening to the chest with a stethoscope. The infant may be breathless for several days. After the acute illness, it is common for the airways to remain sensitive for several weeks, leading to recurrent cough and wheeze. Some signs of severe disease include: * poor feeding (less than half of usual fluid intake in preceding 24 hours) * lethargy * history of apnea * respiratory rate >70/min * presence of nasal flaring and/or grunting * severe chest wall recession * cyanosis 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Bronchiolitis」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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