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Parents unaware of bronchiolitis risk

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Parents unaware of bronchiolitis risk

Over half (53 per cent) of parents with children under five are unaware of the potential risk of bronchiolitis, a common viral lung infection of the lower airways which affects babies and young children, according to a new survey.

The survey, which was commissioned by biopharmaceutical company AbbVie, also found that on average paediatricians spend 45 per cent of their time during winter months looking after children with bronchiolitis, a virus that reduces the amount of air entering the lungs and causes breathing difficulties.

One in three infants develop bronchiolitis before their first birthday and over 30,000 infants are admitted to hospital with severe cases of the condition each year – a 62 per cent increase in the last decade, according to the survet.

These findings have been released alongside the launch of ‘More than a cold’, AbbVie’s bronchiolitis awareness campaign which provides practical advice and materials for parents and healthcare professionals about bronchiolitis and how to reduce the risks of infants developing the condition.

Dr Su Laurent, consultant paediatrician at the Royal Free Hospital NHS Trust, said in a statement: “Despite the high number of babies affected there seems to be a real lack of awareness of bronchiolitis among parents. For many children, bronchiolitis is no more severe than a cold, but for others they may struggle to breathe and feed and need hospital care to help them recover.

“It is therefore important that parents know what bronchiolitis is, what to look out for and how they can reduce the risks for their children, particularly if their baby is premature or has other health complications, such as lung or heart conditions, which could mean they are at higher risk of severe bronchiolitis.”

Find out more about bronchiolitis and the ‘More than a cold’ campaign here.

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