SEVERE ACUTE BRONCHIOLITIS

Acute bronchiolitis is a common viral respiratory infection in infants and is one of the main causes of hospitalization in pediatric wards during the winter season. For severe cases hospitalization in a pediatric intensive care unit is often necessary. However when pediatric intensive care unit places are in short supply the management of severe bronchiolitis becomes a therapeutic challenge. Oxygen therapy remains a key element in the management of these cases. The use of high-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy in a general paediatric ward raises questions about its efficacy and safety when used outside intensive care units.