Viral lower respiratory tract infection of infants causing wheeze, hypoxia, and dehydration.
Also known as: bronchiolitis, RSV, respiratory syncytial virus, viral bronchiolitis
Overview
Acute viral lower respiratory tract infection most common in children under 2 years, characterized by inflammation of the bronchioles producing cough, wheeze, tachypnea, and increased work of breathing. RSV causes the majority of cases.
Epidemiology
Most common lower respiratory infection in infants worldwide. Peak incidence in winter months. >2 million US outpatient visits and ~58,000-80,000 hospitalizations annually among children <5 years. Leading cause of infant hospitalization in the US.
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Congenital heart disease with heart failure — Failure to thrive, murmur, hepatomegaly, cardiomegaly on CXR
Anaphylaxis — Acute onset after exposure, urticaria, hypotension
Pertussis — Paroxysmal cough with whoop, post-tussive emesis, age extremes; PCR positive
Cystic fibrosis — Failure to thrive, recurrent infections, salty skin, family history; sweat chloride
Diagnostic workup
Labs
Clinical diagnosis — routine viral testing NOT recommended in typical cases (does not change management)
RSV testing may help with cohorting, public health surveillance, or when palivizumab prophylaxis decisions affected
Pulse oximetry to assess hypoxia
Consider CBC, BMP, and blood cultures only if febrile neonate (<28 days), toxic appearance, or sepsis concern (very rare bacterial coinfection)
Imaging
Chest radiograph NOT routinely recommended (AAP 2014) — risk of overdiagnosis of pneumonia and unnecessary antibiotics
Obtain CXR if focal exam findings, severe disease, fails to improve, or alternative diagnosis suspected — findings: hyperinflation, peribronchial thickening, atelectasis
Diagnostic algorithm
Intervention
AAP Recommendation
Hydration and nasal suctioning
Supportive — recommended
Supplemental O2 for SpO2 <90%
Recommended
Routine bronchodilator (albuterol)
Do not use
Systemic or inhaled corticosteroids
Do not use
Antibiotics
Do not use unless bacterial coinfection
Chest physiotherapy
Do not use
Routine viral testing or CXR
Do not use in typical cases
Nirsevimab (prevention)
Recommended for all infants <8 months entering first RSV season
AAP 2014 (and 2023 update on prophylaxis) management recommendations for bronchiolitis.
Treatment
First-line
Supportive care — cornerstone:
Suction nasal secretions (gentle bulb suction before feeds; deep suction NOT recommended)
Hydration: oral/NG feeds if tolerated; IV fluids if severe respiratory distress or unable to feed
Bronchodilators (albuterol, racemic epinephrine) — no proven benefit; AAP recommends against routine use
Systemic or inhaled corticosteroids — no benefit in viral bronchiolitis
Antibiotics — only if bacterial coinfection (very rare) or alternative diagnosis
Chest physiotherapy
Hypertonic saline (mixed data, modest if any benefit; not routine)
Second-line / adjunct
High-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) for moderate-severe hypoxia or respiratory distress
Nasal CPAP or BiPAP for refractory respiratory distress
Intubation/mechanical ventilation for impending respiratory failure
Admission criteria: SpO2 <90% on room air, apnea, severe respiratory distress, dehydration, inability to feed, age <3 months with significant illness, social concerns
Prevention:
Maternal RSVpreF vaccine (Abrysvo) at 32-36 weeks gestation (seasonal)
Nirsevimab (Beyfortus) — long-acting monoclonal antibody for all infants <8 months entering their first RSV season (and high-risk children 8-19 months), replaces seasonal palivizumab in most settings
Palivizumab — monthly during RSV season for high-risk infants/children when nirsevimab unavailable
Hand hygiene, breastfeeding, avoiding tobacco smoke and crowded settings
Post-bronchiolitis wheeze and increased asthma risk later in childhood
Severe RSV in immunocompromised, congenital heart disease, BPD
PANCE pearls
Bronchiolitis is a clinical diagnosis — routine RSV PCR, CXR, and labs are NOT recommended in typical cases (AAP 2014).
Bronchodilators, steroids, and antibiotics have no proven benefit in viral bronchiolitis and should be AVOIDED.
Nirsevimab has dramatically changed prevention — single intramuscular dose covering an entire RSV season for all infants (not just high-risk).
Apnea is a common and worrying complication in young infants (<2 months) and preterm infants; low threshold for admission.
Wheeze without prior episodes in a child <2 during RSV season = bronchiolitis; recurrent episodes after age 2 suggest asthma.
References
AAP 2014 — Clinical Practice Guideline: The Diagnosis, Management, and Prevention of Bronchiolitis (Ralston et al., Pediatrics 2014)
CDC/ACIP 2023 — Use of Nirsevimab for the Prevention of RSV Disease Among Infants and Young Children: Recommendations of ACIP — United States, 2023 (Jones et al., MMWR 2023)
MELODY Trial — Nirsevimab for Prevention of RSV in Healthy Late-Preterm and Term Infants (Hammitt et al., NEJM 2022)
MATISSE Trial — Bivalent Prefusion F Vaccine in Pregnancy to Prevent RSV Illness in Infants (Kampmann et al., NEJM 2023)
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