Abstract

Bronchiolitis is caused by infection with respiratory viruses, especially respiratory syncytial virus. Infants and young children may suffer very severely, especially when the infection spreads into the lower respiratory tract after 2-5 days. Hospital admission is mainly necessary for symptomatic treatment, such as oxygen therapy, care for the patency of upper respiratory airways and supportive fluid therapy. The nurse plays a very important role in the care of the child. An important part of health care is observation and measurement of vital functions. Correct assessment of the child's condition and timely notification to the physician can influence the final treatment outcome. This paper describes the criteria for assessing the condition of a child with bronchiolitis. The importance of structured communication between health professionals at deterioration in the child's condition is emphasized.

Key words: child, bronchiolitis, nursing sister, observation, assessment.