Is RSV and bronchiolitist the same thing in babies?

Question

My baby is sick and I took him to the pediatrician and he said he had broncholitist. A couple days later he developed a fever of 102.8 so Irushed him to the hospital. They did a chest X-ray and told me he had RSV. They put him in the hospital and started him on Rocephin, steroids, and oxygen. I am worried because he is only 6 months old. He is on oxygen because his O2 keeps dropping to the 80's. I am just wondering is RSV and bronchiolitist the same thing or are we facing two different infections? And is there anything more they can be doing for my baby?

Answer 1

They are often used synonymously ... used to mean the same thing. This is because RSV (respiratory syncitial virus) is the most common virus that causes bronchiolitis. However, other viruses could cause bronchiolitis (adenovirus, influenzavirus, etc).

If the paediatrics team are saying that he has RSV, it might be that they have isolated the virus from his nasal mucous.

I must confess, I am curious as to why they are giving him Rocephin if they know what he has is a virus ... something that will not respond to Rocephin.

Do they think he has another infection as well?

But RSV causes bronchiolitis. Those are not necessarily two different things.

Answer 2

the best person who can explain this to you is your child's attending physician, you can always ask him of your child's condition like if that RSV and (broncholitist) or most probably BRONCHIOLITIS is a two different infection or just the same.
Bronchiolitis is an inflammation of the bronchioles, the smallest air passages of the lungs. The term usually refers to acute viral bronchiolitis, a common disease in infancy. This is most commonly caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV, also known as human pneumovirus. Its a major cause of respiratory illness in young children, usually last for a week or a couple of weeks depending on the severity of infection.

Answer 3

Bronchiolitis and pneumonia are diseases caused by RSV. It is quite common for pediatricians to treat with antibiotics and steroids.
"It's the most common cause of lower respiratory tract infections in children worldwide.
Virtually all children contract it by the age of three.
It's the leading cause of pneumonia and bronchiolitis in infants.
It may play a major role in the pathogenesis of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
It causes significant morbidity and mortality in immunodeficient patients. 1,2
It spreads easily from person to person through contact with respiratory secretions. "

Answer 4

well my son had same thing last year 16 days ,i was scared it will get worse before it gets better ,but have faith children s doctors are angles i saw things that make me shiver when i think about that time.but it will get beter my son had influenza a then got rsv so it can be to seperate things i saw my son go from sick but not to bad ...to being put in a medical coma all in 5 hrs he had 17 iv s so many they had to go in his veins in his inner thigh he still has scars.be positive dont give up hope these doctors are amazing ,