Here are all the mnemonics you ever wanted on ⚡Bronchiolitis⚡. These mnemonics covers all aspects of the disease/health condition
Causes of Bronchiolitis
Mnemonic: VIRAL KIDS
V – Viruses (RSV, rhinovirus, adenovirus)
I – Immature immune systems in infants
R – Respiratory tract susceptibility in young children
A – Air pollution exposure
L – Low birth weight as a risk
K – Kids (especially under 2 years)
I – Indoor smoke exposure
D – Daycare attendance
S – Seasonal (winter months)Triggers for Bronchiolitis
Mnemonic: COLD SEASON
C – Cold weather
O – Overcrowded living conditions
L – Lowered immunity
D – Dust mites and allergens
S – Smoking (second-hand smoke exposure)
E – Environmental pollutants
A – Airborne viral particles
S – Stress to the immune system
O – Other sick children (viral spread)
N – Nasal congestion leading to respiratory distressRisk Factors For Bronchiolitis
Mnemonic: YOUNG LUNG
Y – Youth (infants primarily affected)
O – Oxygen therapy at birth (premature babies)
U – Underlying heart or lung conditions
N – Not breastfed (decreased immunity)
G – Genetic predisposition to respiratory issues
L – Low birth weight
U – Unvaccinated status
N – Nursery (daycare) exposure
G – Gender (slightly more common in males)Warning Signs of Bronchiolitis
Mnemonic: BREATH
B – Breathing difficulty (rapid, labored)
R – Retractions (chest sinking in)
E – Eating less (poor feeding)
A – Apnea (pauses in breathing, especially in premies)
T – Temperature (fever)
H – Harsh coughingPredisposing Factors of Bronchiolitis
Mnemonic: PREMIE
P – Premature birth
R – Respiratory distress at birth
E – Environmental smoke exposure
M – Maternal smoking during pregnancy
I – Immune system immaturity
E – Exposures to siblings or daycare illnessesSigns & Symptoms of Bronchiolitis
Mnemonic: COUGHING
C – Cough (persistent, dry or wet)
O – Oxygen saturation decrease
U – Unusual irritability
G – Grunting noises
H – High fever (in some cases)
I – Intercostal retractions
N – Nasal flaring
G – Gastrointestinal symptoms (vomiting after coughing)Characteristic Findings In Bronchiolitis
Mnemonic: WHEEZE
W – Wheezing on auscultation
H – Hyperinflation on chest X-ray
E – Expiratory phase prolongation
E – Edema in small airways
Z – Zonal hyperlucency (on X-ray)
E – Excessive mucus productionClinical Features of Bronchiolitis
Mnemonic: TINY LUNGS
T – Tachypnea (rapid breathing)
I – Irritability and lethargy
N – Nasal congestion
Y – Young age (usually under 2 years)
L – Low-grade fever
U – Upper respiratory tract infection symptoms initially
N – Nasal flaring
G – Grunting respiratory sounds
S – Sibilant or sonorous wheezesWhat Should Be Avoided In Bronchiolitis
Mnemonic: SMOKE AWAY
S – Smoke exposure (tobacco, environmental)
M – Mixing with sick individuals (viral transmission)
O – Overheating the child
K – Keeping indoors with poor air circulation
E – Excessive wrapping (can increase breathing difficulty)
A – Allergen exposure
W – Waiting too long to seek medical care
A – Antibiotics (unless bacterial infection is present)
Y – Yielding to the urge to give cough suppressantsDrugs Used To Treat Bronchiolitis
Mnemonic: SUPPORT
S – Saline nasal drops (for congestion)
U – Usually no antibiotics (unless secondary bacterial infection)
P – Paracetamol (for fever)
P – Possibly nebulized epinephrine (in severe cases)
O – Oxygen therapy (if hypoxic)
R – Ribavirin (antiviral, rarely used)
T – Tent (oxygen tent for infants)Drugs To Avoid In Bronchiolitis
Mnemonic: COLD MEDS
C – Cough suppressants
O – Oral corticosteroids
L – Leukotriene modifiers
D – Decongestants (in infants)
M – Mucolytic agents
E – Expectorants
D – Daily antibiotics (unless indicated for another infection)
S – SedativesRadiological Features of Bronchiolitis
Mnemonic: HYPERLUNG
H – Hyperinflation of the lungs
Y – Young patients primarily
P – Patchy atelectasis
E – Emphysema-like changes
R – Rib cage expansion
L – Lung consolidation (rare)
U – Unstructured appearance
N – Normal thymus shadow (can be mistaken for pathology)
G – Gaseous distention in intestines (due to air swallowing)Diagnostic Tests for Bronchiolitis
Mnemonic: VIRAL CHECK
V – Viral swab (RSV antigen detection)
I – Inflammation markers (blood test)
R – Respiratory rate and effort assessment
A – Auscultation for wheezes/crackles
L – Lung X-ray (chest radiography)
C – Capillary blood gas (for oxygen levels)
H – Heart rate monitoring
E – Echocardiogram (if cardiac involvement suspected)
C – Clinical presentation assessment
K – Keep monitoring for oxygen saturationLaboratory Findings In Bronchiolitis
Mnemonic: BREATH LAB
B – Blood oxygen levels (hypoxemia)
R – Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) antigen in nasal swab
E – Elevated white blood cell count (occasionally)
A – Acidosis (metabolic, in severe cases)
T – Thrombocytosis (occasionally)
H – Hypercapnia (in severe cases)
L – Lactate (may increase with fatigue)
A – Alkalosis (respiratory, compensatory)
B – Blood culture (if bacterial superinfection is suspected)Complications of Bronchiolitis
Mnemonic: OXYGEN
O – Oxygen dependency in severe cases
X – X-ray changes (persistent abnormalities)
Y – Yielding of respiratory muscles (fatigue)
G – Gastrointestinal complications (poor feeding, dehydration)
E – Ear infections (otitis media)
N – Nosocomial infections (in hospital settings)Differential Diagnosis of Bronchiolitis
Mnemonic: WHEEZY KID
W – Wheezing disorders (like asthma)
H – Heart conditions mimicking respiratory distress
E – Esophageal reflux with aspiration
E – Epiglottitis (though rare in this age group)
Z – Zoonotic infections (pertussis, for instance)
Y – Young infant with metabolic disorders
K – Kawasaki disease (rare)
I – Inborn errors of metabolism
D – Dysphagia leading to aspiration