What supportive treatment is often provided for patients with bronchiolitis?

In cases of bronchiolitis, oxygen therapy is a key supportive treatment provided to help address respiratory distress caused by inflammation and obstruction in the small airways of the lungs. This condition is most commonly seen in infants and young children, particularly those under two years old. The primary goal of oxygen therapy is to ensure adequate oxygenation of the child’s blood, especially since bronchiolitis can lead to hypoxemia due to difficulty in breathing and reduced airflow.

Monitoring the oxygen saturation levels with pulse oximetry allows healthcare providers to assess the need for supplemental oxygen. If the child's oxygen saturation falls below a certain threshold, oxygen therapy can be administered to improve breathing and avoid complications related to low oxygen levels. This is particularly important given that bronchiolitis is often viral in nature and does not respond to antibiotics, which are not effective against viral infections.

Other treatments listed, while they may have roles in managing complications, do not address the immediate breathing difficulties as effectively as oxygen therapy does. Intensive care monitoring tends to be reserved for more severe cases requiring advanced interventions, while intravenous fluids may be necessary in cases of dehydration but are not consistently administered to all patients with bronchiolitis.