[Bronchiolitis].

Abstract

Bronchiolitis is the most common disease leading to hospitalization of infants of less than one year of age in Finland. Among each age group, the disease needs hospitalization in approx. 3% of the cases. Patients of less than one month of age and formerly premature infants, especially those having bronchopulmonary dysplasia, require intensive care. Monitoring of oxygenation and administration of supplemental oxygen are the cornerstones of the treatment. When required, inhalations of racemic epinephrine are given for severe symptoms. The authors' treatment practice for bronchiolitis is presented in this article.