Bronchiolitis therapies and misadventures.

ABSTRACT

Viral bronchiolitis, which is most commonly caused by an infection with the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), can lead to respiratory difficulties in young children which may require hospitalization. Despite years of research and medical trials, the mainstay of bronchiolitis treatment remains supportive only. This review provides an overview of the history of different treatments for bronchiolitis, including those that failed, as well as new therapies that are under study. Future studies for the treatment of bronchiolitis should consider different age-groups, important subgroups (i.e., those with a prior history of wheezing, those with a family history of asthma and those with non-RSV viral etiologies) whose response to treatment may differ from that of the composite group.