has anybody had a child die from bronchiolitas?
Question:
Answers:
I'm so sorry to hear about your loss. One can't imagine what you went through.
My son had this at six weeks old, it was awful but with a 18month as well to look after, everything was awfult then.
He then had another attack of it at two years of age. It was only at that time we realised how ill you can get. I had to hold the oxygen mask to hids face whilst he fought to breathe.
It was an horrendous time & I now know that once your child has had it, they will always be suseptable for chest infections etc.
I hope you get some serious answers.
Take care
Other Answers:
bronchiolitis can be fatal, I have experience with it as a respiratory therapist and a parent of a child who had it. We spent 2 weeks in the hospital with it. However, even being serious enough to be admited into the hospital is rare. I have had my sons doc telling me if I had not been a respiratory therapist and took care of him with doing treatments at home and cpt, he would have prob ended up on life support or worse. It can develop after a rsv infection, which is the more common cause of it. My son had rsv in nov and had bronchiolitis in december.
I am so sorry that you have had to go though what you have.
Do some research on rsv, and it will tell you about bronchiolitis.
heres some info:Bronchiolitis is a common illness of the respiratory tract caused by a respiratory infection that affects the tiny airways, called the bronchioles, that lead to the lungs. As these airways become inflamed, they swell and fill with mucus, making it difficult for a child to breathe.
The illness affects infants and young children most often because their small airways can become blocked more easily than those of older children or adults. Bronchiolitis typically occurs during the first 2 years of life, with the peak occurrence at about 3 to 6 months of age. It's more common in males, children who have not been breastfed, and children who live in crowded conditions. Day-care attendance and exposure to cigarette smoke can also increase the likelihood that an infant will develop bronchiolitis.
Although it's often a mild illness, some infants are at risk for a more severe disease that requires hospitalization. Conditions that increase the risk of severe infection include prematurity, prior chronic heart or lung disease, and a weakened immune system due to illness or medications. Children who have had bronchiolitis may be more likely to develop asthma later in life, but it's unclear whether bronchiolitis causes or triggers asthma, or whether children who eventually go on to develop asthma were simply more prone to developing bronchiolitis as infants. Studies are being done to clarify the relationship between bronchiolitis and the later development of asthma.
Bronchiolitis is usually caused by a viral infection, most commonly respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). RSV infections are responsible for more than half of all cases of the illness and are most widespread in the winter and early spring. Other viruses associated with bronchiolitis include influenza and adenovirus.
Signs and Symptoms
The first symptoms of bronchiolitis are usually the same as those of a common cold:
stuffiness
runny nose
mild cough
These symptoms last a day or 2 and are followed by worsening of the cough and the appearance of wheezes (high-pitched whistling noises when breathing out).
Sometimes more severe respiratory difficulties gradually develop, marked by:
rapid, shallow breathing (60 to 80 times a minute)
a rapid heartbeat
drawing in of the neck and chest with each breath, known as retractions
flaring of the nostrils
irritability, with difficulty sleeping and signs of fatigue
The child may also have a fever, a poor appetite, and may vomit after coughing. Less commonly, young infants, especially those born prematurely, may have episodes where they briefly stop breathing (this is called apnea) before developing other symptoms.
In severe cases, symptoms may worsen quickly. A child with severe bronchiolitis may tire from the work of breathing and have poor air movement in and out of the lungs, due to the clogging of the small airways. The skin can turn blue (called cyanosis), which is especially noticeable in the lips and fingernails. The child can also become dehydrated from working harder to breathe, vomiting, and taking in less during feedings.
Contagiousness
The infections that cause bronchiolitis are contagious. The germs can spread in tiny drops of fluid from an infected person's nose and mouth. These may become airborne when the person sneezes, coughs, or laughs, and they may also end up on things the person has touched, such as used tissues or toys.
Infants in child-care centers have a higher risk of contracting an infection that may lead to bronchiolitis because they're in close contact with lots of other young children.
Prevention
The best way to prevent the spread of viruses that can cause bronchiolitis is frequent hand washing. It may help to keep infants away from others who have colds or coughs. Infants who are exposed to cigarette smoke are more likely to develop more severe bronchiolitis, compared to babies from smoke-free homes. Therefore, it's important to avoid exposing children to cigarette smoke.
Although a vaccine for bronchiolitis has not yet been developed, there is a medication that can be given to lessen the severity of the disease. It consists of antibodies to RSV and is injected monthly during peak RSV season. The medication is recommended only for infants at high risk of severe disease, such as those born very prematurely or those with chronic lung disease.
Incubation
The incubation period (the time between infection and the onset of symptoms) ranges from several days to 1 week, depending on the infection that leads to the bronchiolitis.
Duration
Cases of bronchiolitis typically last about 7 days, but children with severe cases can cough for weeks. The illness generally peaks on about the second to third day after the child starts coughing and having difficulty breathing and then gradually resolves.
Professional Treatment
Fortunately, most cases of bronchiolitis are mild and require no specific professional treatment. Antibiotics aren't useful for treating bronchiolitis because it's caused by a viral infection, and antibiotics are only effective against bacterial infections. Medication may sometimes be given to help open a child's airways.
Infants who have trouble breathing should always be evaluated by a doctor. Infants who are moderately or severely ill may need to be hospitalized to be watched closely and to receive fluids and humidified oxygen. Rarely, in very severe cases, some babies are placed on respirators to help them breathe until they start to get better.
Home Treatment
The best treatment for most children is time to recover and plenty of fluids. Making sure a child drinks enough fluids can be a tricky task, however, because infants with bronchiolitis may not feel like drinking. Therefore, the child should be offered fluids in small amounts at more frequent intervals than usual.
To make breathing easier, many parents use a cool-mist vaporizer during the winter months to keep the air in the child's room moist; dry winter air can dry out airways and make the mucus stickier. Avoid hot-water and steam humidifiers, which can be hazardous and can cause scalding. If you use a cool-mist humidifier, clean it daily with household bleach to discourage mold.
Sometimes, tilting the child's mattress up slightly may help decrease the work of breathing. Using a bulb syringe and saline (saltwater) nose drops can also help to keep a baby's nose clear. This can be especially helpful just before feeding and sleeping. Give acetaminophen to reduce fever and make the child more comfortable.
When to Call Your Child's Doctor
You should call your doctor if your child:
is breathing quickly, especially if this is accompanied by retractions or wheezing
might be dehydrated due to poor appetite or vomiting, and the diapers are drier than usual or your child is sleepier than usual
has a high fever
has a worsening cough
You should seek immediate help if you feel your child is having difficulty breathing and the cough, retractions, or wheezing are getting worse, or if his or her lips or fingernails appear blue.
Reviewed by: Elana Pearl Ben-Joseph, MD
Date reviewed: May 2004
Originally reviewed by: Steven Dowshen, MD
More Questions and Answers
- statistics of african american females infected with hiv/ aids?
- Are their any professional mainstream models that are 5'8 or shorter?
- Why should employers hire people who smoke cigarettes?
- I'm twelve years old. How do I get rid of blackheads on my face?
- management of ovarian carcinoma with massive ascites?
- Has anyone tried generic bupropion SR?
- How to remove Body Odour?
- *This is for women* Has anyone tried the brest enhancer called SBS? If so does it really work?