Life

Ask the expert: Baby colds, sniffles & bronchiolitis

Babies can catch as many as eight to 12 colds a year
Babies can catch as many as eight to 12 colds a year Babies can catch as many as eight to 12 colds a year

Q: "My baby is a few weeks old and I'm concerned that with winter coming he'll pick up lots of bugs. How can I judge if he just has the sniffles or if it's something more serious?"

A: Dr Su Laurent, a consultant paediatrician at the Royal Free Hospital in London, says: "Young children get colds quite often because their immune system is still developing. They can catch as many as eight to 12 a year and they normally pass within two weeks. While they aren't usually serious, it's important to look out for signs it might be more than a cold.

"Bronchiolitis is a common lung infection affecting babies and young children - one in three will have the condition before their first birthday yet despite this, more than half of parents with children under five are unaware of the illness.

"For many children, bronchiolitis is no more severe than a cold, but for others they may struggle to breathe and feed and may need hospital care to help them recover. A recent survey has found that, on average, paediatricians spend almost half of their time during winter months looking after children with bronchiolitis.

"It's 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're at higher risk of developing severe bronchiolitis. The early symptoms of bronchiolitis are similar to those of a common cold, such as a runny nose and cough. Further symptoms then usually develop over the next few days, including a high temperature, a dry and persistent raspy cough, difficulty feeding and rapid or noisy breathing (wheezing)."

:: For more information on bronchiolitis visit www.morethanacold.co.uk