Annual bronchiolitis epidemic has begun

The bronchiolitis season has begun. Like influenza epidemics this is an annual event (scourge is a better word) mainly occurring in winter and early spring.

Bronchiolitis is an acute lower respiratory tract viral illness that causes obstruction of the air passages as they enter the lungs. Many different viruses cause bronchiolitis, but respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most common cause. (In fact, bronchiolitis is often referred to as RSV infection.) It is a disease of only young children, with 80 percent of infections occurring in children younger than 1 year of age.

http://www.nwi.com/articles/2009/01/11/get_healthy/get_healthy/doc54022af82a95e4d78625753700685475.txt