Which of the following is a correct home-care instruction for bronchiolitis?

• A. Avoid giving fluids to prevent vomiting
• B. Ignore mild increases in breathing rate
• C. Monitor for difficulty breathing and seek care if it worsens
• D. Perform chest physiotherapy every 2 hours

Answer: (C)

Bronchiolitis at home is managed with supportive care and careful monitoring, especially watching how the child’s breathing changes and staying hydrated. The best instruction is to monitor for difficulty breathing and seek care promptly if it worsens because infants can deteriorate quickly, and early medical evaluation can prevent complications.

Hydration is important, so fluids should be offered as tolerated rather than avoided. Do not ignore a rising breathing rate or increased work of breathing, as those can be early signs that the condition is worsening. Chest physiotherapy is not a recommended routine home treatment for bronchiolitis, since it hasn’t been shown to add benefit and can be uncomfortable.