If your child has been diagnosed with RSV and/or bronchiolitis, you may be wondering what to expect. It can be overwhelming to think about your little one being so sick. I remember walking out of the doctor’s office the first time, simply overwhelmed because I had a breathing machine, and a lot of questions about what was going to happen next.
In order to receive a proper diagnosis, your doctor should listen carefully to your child’s lungs. The doctor will hear wheezing and crackling in the lungs. The doctor may also order a chest a-ray done. The technician will put your child in a plastic brace to hold him upright for the x-rays. It is difficult to watch, and so you may want to wait outside the room. Additionally your doctor should have you come in for a follow up appointment sometime in the next week.
Your doctor may prescribe Albuterol breathing treatments. You will use a nebulizer and mask to give the treatments to your child. Both of my boys always became very jittery after the treatments. The doctor can prescribe Albuterol that is taken orally instead. If you are having a difficult time having your child sit through the treatments, you may want to talk about this with your doctor. However, it is important to note that this is not as fast acting as the breathing treatments. The doctor may also prescribe an oral steroid if the breathing treatments do not seem to be working to clear it up.
Additionally it is important to know that it simply takes time for your child to recover. The medicines do not necessarily work well for every child. Often you just need to wait until the lungs clear up. You should watch the air quality and keep your child inside during danger days, while he still has symptoms.
Your child may suffer from bronchiolitis every time he catches a cold until he turns one. This varies, but you should keep a close eye on him whenever he catches a cold. You should to talk to your doctor about any other concerns or questions that you have.
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