introduction
DESCRIPTION
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INTRODUCTION Bronchiolitis, a lower respiratory tract infection that primarily affects the small airways (bronchioles), is a common cause of illness and hospitalization in infants and young children.
The microbiology, epidemiology, clinical features, and diagnosis of bronchiolitis will be presented here. The treatment, outcome, and prevention of bronchiolitis in children; respiratory syncytial virus, and the emergent evaluation of children with acute respiratory distress are discussed separately:
(See "Bronchiolitis in infants and children: Treatment; outcome; and prevention".)(See "Respiratory syncytial virus infection: Clinical features and diagnosis" and "Respiratory syncytial virus infection: Treatment" and "Respiratory syncytial virus infection: Prevention".)(See "Emergent evaluation and immediate management of acute respiratory distress in children".)DEFINITION Bronchiolitis is broadly defined as a clinical syndrome that occurs in children