Complications

Complication
Timeframe
Likelihood
short term
low

Studies have shown a low prevalence of bacterial infection in bronchiolitis, and systemic antibiotics should only be used if there is concomitant bacterial infection.

Overview of pneumonia

long term
high

Recurrent wheezing is common in infants with bronchiolitis, especially those who have been hospitalised. Wheezing can last for several years after infection, although epidemiological studies suggest that the prevalence decreases by around age 13 years or before. Studies have demonstrated that a significant proportion of infants with respiratory syncytial virus bronchiolitis go on to develop recurrent wheezing; rhinovirus has been increasingly studied and shown to have an association with recurrent wheezing and a diagnosis of asthma.[139][140][141][142][143]​ One large retrospective population-based study from Spain found the rate of recurrent wheezing or asthma to be higher when bronchiolitis occurred after the first 6 months of life.[145]

long term
high

Rhinovirus has been increasingly studied and shown to have an association with recurrent wheezing and a diagnosis of asthma.[139][140][141][142][143]​ Risk factors such as family history of asthma increase the risk of a future asthma diagnosis.[140][144]​ One large retrospective population-based study from Spain found the rate of recurrent wheezing or asthma to be higher when bronchiolitis occurred after the first 6 months of life.[145]​ Studies have failed to clarify whether viral bronchiolitis and/or RSV contribute to the development of asthma, or serve as clinical markers of a genetic predisposition to asthma.[146][147]

Asthma in children

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