Bronchiolitis: looking after your baby
With an infection of the small airways in babies, watch breathing, feeding and overall condition together.
Do not wait with emergency symptoms
Call 112 in Türkiye if your baby has marked difficulty breathing, pauses in breathing, blue lips or cannot be woken. Do not wait for an appointment or for the cough to improve.
What is bronchiolitis?
Bronchiolitis is usually a viral infection of the small airways in the lungs, affecting children under two. RSV is a common cause. A runny nose may be followed by cough, wheezing and reduced feeding; very young babies may not have a fever.
What should you watch?
- Faster or harder breathing, much less feeding and fewer wet nappies: seek prompt medical assessment.
- A temperature of 38 °C or above in a baby under three months needs immediate medical assessment.
Care and assessment
If a clinician advises home care, smaller and more frequent breast or formula feeds may help. Seek reassessment if the baby cannot feed or is getting worse. Severe illness may require oxygen or fluid support in hospital; care depends on the child’s condition.
Discuss prevention with your clinician
Wash hands, reduce close contact with people who are ill and keep the baby away from smoke. Options such as vaccination during pregnancy and preventive antibodies for babies have different eligibility rules. Ask your clinician about current access in Türkiye and suitability for your child. They are not home treatments for an existing infection.
Information sources
These sources support general information; they do not confirm our hospital’s services or clinical approval.
This information is general and does not replace individual diagnosis or treatment advice. Discuss your own situation with your healthcare team.
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