Bronchiolitis

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Definition Symptoms Causes Risk factors When to seek medical advice

Tests and diagnosis Complications Treatments and drugs Prevention Lifestyle and home remedies

Definition

Bronchiolitis is an infection of the lungs' airways. It most often occurs in young children, commonly between 3 and 6 months of age. About one in nine babies gets bronchiolitis in his or her first year of life, usually during the fall and winter months.

Bronchiolitis starts out with signs and symptoms similar to those of a common cold but then progresses to coughing and wheezing.

Although a child's bout of bronchiolitis may be scary, particularly for parents, signs and symptoms typically last for about a week and then go away. In the meantime, you can take a number of self-help measures to make your child more comfortable.

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Symptoms