Good Health

BRONCHIOLITIS is an infection of the small airways of the lung, which occurs primarily in young infants; most often in those aged between 2 and 24 months.

Bronchiolitis is usually caused by a virus known as Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) which is a common cause of colds. In babies, RSV can travel to the lower airways causing bronchiolitis. The term bronchiolitis means inflammation of the bronchioles; the smallest airways within the lungs.

It most commonly occurs during winter months - November to March - and it is estimated that up to 1 in 3 babies under the age of 12 months suffer with bronchiolitis at some point. It usually affects babies aged 3 to 6 months and normally it is easily managed by the family GP. It is estimated that approximately 2 in 10 babies will require admission to hospital with bronchiolitis. Babies at higher risk include premature babies, babies with heart conditions and babies with underlying lung conditions. SYMPTOMS

The main symptoms of bronchiolitis are as follows:

- Symptoms of the common cold such as runny nose, cough and mild fever which usually occur for the first 2 to 3 days.

- Fast breathing, difficulty with breathing and wheezing may develop as the infection travels to the bronchioles.

- The nostrils may flare and the number of breaths that an infant takes may go as high as 60-80 per minute as the condition worsens.

- As the baby requires more effort to breathe one can visualise the muscles between the ribs moving inwards during each breath.

- At this point, the baby may have difficulty feeding as they feel tired, unwell and may struggle to breathe and feed at the same time.

Symptoms usually peak in severity from day 2 to 3 of the illness and may vary in severity from mild (a heavy cold) to severe, with serious breathing

Bronchiolitis usually resolves as the immune system clears the virus. There is no medicine that will kill the virus. Antibiotics do not kill viruses and are not usually prescribed. The aim of treatment is:

- To make sure that the baby does not become dehydrated. - To help with breathing if it becomes difficult. Infants may be treated at home in most cases. Your doctor will ensure that your baby is well hydrated and that he or she is able to breathe reasonably well. About 2 in 10 babies will however, require hospital admission and for the most part. This will involve a short stay until they are over the worst of the illness. In the event of a hospital admission oxygen may be administered and a tube may be passed into the baby’s stomach in order to be able to feed the baby, ensuring optimal nutrition. Some babies become seriously ill or develop pneumonia as a complication and intensive care is needed in a very small number of cases. PREVENTION

It is impossible to totally avoid the RSV virus. It may be sensible, however, to keep young babies away from people with coughs and colds. Studies have shown that not smoking and breastfeeding may be protective against developing bronchiolitis and may prevent infants from developing a more severe bout of illness.

If you’re looking for natural chemical-free solutions here are some options.

Licener Head Lice treatment shampoo is a clinically proven treatment to kill both the head lice and the eggs in one treatment. Licener has proven its effectiveness through clinical studies done on children suffering with head lice. It’s easy to use: you simply apply to dry hair and leave for 10 minutes and then rinse. Combing will remove the dead lice/eggs. The active ingredient in Licener is Neem which is a natural insecticide. It’s suitable for 2 years plus.

Another option is NittyGritty head lice solution to kill head lice. Use on tangle-free dry hair, leave for 20 minutes and gently comb the solution through the hair with a plastic nit comb. Repeat after 10 days. When you have successfully cleared the lice you can use Nitty Gritty head lice defence spray every day to prevent the re-infection.

The Nitty Gritty NitFree Comb is available if you don’t want to use any treatments. It will remove the eggs which stick to the hair shaft, as well as removing the live lice. The comb is a once off purchase. You just need to persevere and comb the hair regularly. However, to get the best results, use it with the Nitty Gritty head lice solution.

Many parents use Atlantic Tea Tree oil, a natural insecticide, simply add a couple of drops to your shampoo and use as normal. You can add several drops to a spray bottle of water and spray your child’s head daily as a preventative treatment.

I wish you luck in your battle against head lice.