Paeds Cases · respiratory-sleep-and-airway
Explain bronchiolitis and its home care to a worried parent — OSCE
OSCE communication and shared-planning station: explaining bronchiolitis to a frightened parent, why antibiotics and inhalers are not being given, what supportive care will happen, what to watch for at home, and when to return urgently.
On this page
Study tools
Target exams
Candidate instructions
You are the paediatric registrar. A 5-month-old girl with moderate bronchiolitis has been settled with gentle nasal suction and support for her feeding, and is now feeding better and saturating well. Her mother has ten minutes with you. She wants to understand, in plain language: (1) what bronchiolitis is; (2) why she is not being given antibiotics or an inhaler; (3) whether it will get worse; and (4) exactly what to watch for and when to come back. Explain with empathy, check understanding, and agree a clear plan. [1]
References4ShowHide
- [1]Ralston SL, Lieberthal AS, Meissner HC, et al. Clinical practice guideline: the diagnosis, management, and prevention of bronchiolitis. Pediatrics, 2014.PMID 25349312
- [2]Florin TA, Plint AC, Zorc JJ. Viral bronchiolitis. Lancet, 2017.PMID 27549684
- [3]Gadomski AM, Scribani MB. Bronchodilators for bronchiolitis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 2014.PMID 24937099
- [4]Meissner HC. Viral Bronchiolitis in Children. N Engl J Med, 2016.PMID 26735994