Skip to main content
bronchiolitis

bronchiolitis

2 7.7
Swelling of the small airways in the lungs caused by an infection that makes breathing hard
  • noun
  • /ˌbrɒŋkiˈoʊlɪtɪs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : bronquiolitis
  • Among the four serotypes, HPIV3 (genus Respirovirus) causes particularly severe disease, including bronchiolitis and pneumonia (1-3).
  • constrictive bronchiolitis
  • causes bronchiolitis

Examples

  • Multifocal lymphocytic and eosinophilic bronchiolitis, along with widened interlobular pulmonary septa, were observed in lung sections infected with D. viviparus.

    Academic text (2014)
  • During the winter months, many infants are hospitalized due to bronchiolitis, which can lead to breathing difficulties.

  • Human bocavirus 1 (HBoV1) is a frequent cause of common cold, bronchiolitis, acute wheezing, and pneumonia in children worldwide.

    Academic text (2013)
  • If you suspect your baby or toddler has bronchiolitis, let your pediatrician know right away.

  • What are the signs and symptoms of bronchiolitis?

Synonyms

bronchial pneumonia
vsbronchiolitis
  • Specialized
1 4.6

A lung infection that inflames the small airways and causes cough and fever

is inflammation of bronchiole lining that can occur without overall lung infection
bronchopneumonia
vsbronchiolitis
  • Specialized
8.0

An infection of the small airways of the lungs that makes them swollen

is inflammation of bronchiole lining that may not involve wider lung infection

How Severe

chronic bronchitis
  • Specialized
1 3.4
bronchiolitis
  • Specialized
2 7.7

Surface Forms

bronchiolitis singular
bronchiolitis plural

Morphology

bronchiolitis = bronchiole (semi-transparent) = bronchiole + itis

Formed by the medical base 'bronchiole' + the suffix '-itis' meaning inflammation; the structure is clear to those familiar with medical terms but not fully transparent to an average B1 learner.

Etymology

Bronchiolitis comes from bronchus ('airway') + -iole ('small') + -itis ('inflammation'). So it means 'inflammation of the small airways', which is why bronchiolitis causes coughing and trouble breathing, especially in babies.