Parents, learn symptoms of bronchiolitis, campaign warns

Parents are being urged to brush up on their knowledge of a chest condition resulting in the hospitalisation of 20,000 UK infants and children every year.

The seasonal condition of bronchiolitis affects one third of all babies between the months of October and March, but only five per cent of parents could identify the symptoms.

Bronchiolitis causes inflammation of the air passages inside the lungs resulting in breathing difficulties.

The more severe symptoms include:

Fast breathing: shallow, quick breaths not taking in much air
Appetite: inability to feed
Cough: distinctive rasping cough
Temperature: high temperature will usually accompany cold-like symptoms such as a runny nose

An awareness campaign to help parents identify bronchiolitis has been launched by Abbott and  is being supported by the British Lung Foundation.

Dame Helena Shovelton, Chief Executive of the British Lung Foundation says: ““With thousands of babies being admitted to hospital with bronchiolitis every year, it’s important that the British Lung Foundation (BLF) supports this campaign to help radically reduce the spread of infection. We believe work is needed to help parents understand more about bronchiolitis as evidence shows many know very little about the condition””

For more information, visit: www.morethanacold.co.uk.