Suction…Suction…Suction!
At Little Spurs Pediatric Urgent Care, we care about your child with Bronchiolitis. That is why we want to share some information about the condition.
Bronchiolitis is a respiratory infection caused by a viral infection that causes symptoms such as fever, runny nose cough, vomiting, and in more severe causes, wheezing and respiratory distress (use of neck, chest or abdomen muscles). RSV (respiratory synctial virus) is responsible up to 50-80% of the time, but other viruses such as Rhinovirus and Influenza can cause it too. It is most common in children less than the age of 2 years old. Infants between 3-6 months are most vulnerable. It is a very common reason for children to visit pediatricians, urgent cares and emergency departments across the US during the fall and winter months. Children most at risk are those who attend daycare, those that have older siblings, those that have not been breast fed, or those that are exposed to second hand smoking
Bronchiolitis is what we refer to as a “self limited” disease, meaning there is no specific treatment. Bronchiolitis may start as any other cold, get worse between days three to five, then have a slow recovery of up to three weeks. This is what we mean when we tell you that “it will get worse before it gets better”. About 3% of all children require hospitalization for bronchiolitis at some point in their lives. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations include using preservative free normal saline drops and suction, especially before feeding and sleeping and any other time your child is congested. You may need to give your child more frequent small feeds or supplement with Pedialyte, Gatorade or water depending on your child’s age, as hydration is key. You may give Ibuprofen (Motrin) or Acetaminophen (Tylenol) for fever if recommended by your health care provider. A warm or cold humidifier in the child’s room may help with congestion. For most kids, bronchiolitis is just a bad cold!
The American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend routine testing for RSV because it does not change the way we treat your child and only adds to your medical cost. This means whether we test or don’t test, we will treat your child exactly the same! The American Academy of Pediatrics also advises against chest x-rays, albuterol inhalers or nebulizer treatments, antibiotics (unless otherwise indicated), IV Fluids (unless otherwise indicated), or cough and Cold Medications as they do not improve symptoms as per many many medical studies.
So…what happens after your visit to Little Spurs Pediatric Urgent Care? Be vigilant! Always call your Primary Doctor for a recheck 2 days after your visit or when instructed by your health care provider. Seek immediate medical attention if your child has persistent fever (4-5 days), elevated temperatures (104F or greater), difficulty breathing, poor feeding or if you have any other concerns about your child’s condition.
If you think your child has bronchiolitis, bring them to Little Spurs Pediatric Urgent Care. We are a walk-in pediatric urgent care open seven days a week. Our kids urgent care centers are conveniently located with 11 locations in San Antonio and one in Dallas. Our Potranco clinic, located at 14249 Potranco Road, will open February 2020. For more information, please email us at info@littlespurs.com. We welcome walk-ins, accept most insurance plans and are proud to be accredited by the Urgent Care Association!
