Bronchiolitis Patient Education
Patient Education
- Educate parents on the basic pathophysiology and expected clinical course of bronchiolitis
- Educate parents on proper suctioning and airway maintenance techniques
- Other respiratory care therapies eg chest physiotherapy, cool mist therapy and aerosol therapy are generally not helpful and therefore are not recommended
- Deep and improper suctioning has been associated with longer hospital stay
- Provide information on signs of progressing disease which would necessitate calling health care providers:
- Increase in respiratory rate (RR) and accessory muscle use for respiration
- Worsening general appearance
- Inability to maintain an acceptable hydration status
- Propping up the patient at an angle of 10-30° may ease breathing difficulty
- Inform parents that symptoms of bronchiolitis (ie cough) usually resolves within 3 weeks from diagnosis