Table 1.

Summary of clinical practice guidelines for diagnosing and managing bronchiolitis.

• Diagnosis of bronchiolitis and assessment of disease severity should be based on history and physical examination

• Laboratory studies and chest radiography should not be routinely ordered for diagnosis of bronchiolitis

• Salbutamol should not be used

• Epinephrine should not be used

• Nebulized hypertonic saline 3% should not be routinely used, and may be considered for children with a diagnosis of bronchiolitis and have length of stay >72 hours

• Inhaled and systemic steroids should not be used

• Antibiotics should not be administered to patients with bronchiolitis unless there is concomitant bacterial infection

• Chest physiotherapy should not be used

• Consider nasal suctioning in infants with respiratory distress due to nasal blockage with secretions

• Nasogastric or intravenous fluids should be administered for patients who cannot tolerate oral hydration