Infants’ bronchitis – watch for the signs

BRONCHITIS is the most frequent cause of hospitalisation in youngsters under the age of one in Spain.

It is more prolific when the temperatures drop and affects mostly infants being a viral infection of the lower respiratory tract system. This becomes inflamed and narrowed so air passage is difficult and whilst it can occur in older children and adults, in babies under the age of three months, it can be particularly serious in the young respiratory and cardiac system.

So how can you spot the signs? Bronchitis starts initially as a cold with coughing, a fever and signs of respiratory distress. In babies they may struggle to feed and show laboured breathing. Hospitalisation is often necessary with the infant put on oxygen and further bouts of bronchitis are not uncommon in youngsters.