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bronchiolitis

American  
[brahng-ki-oh-lahy-tis] / ˌbrɑŋ kɪ oʊˈlaɪ tɪs /

noun

  1. Pathology. inflammation of the bronchioles; a viral infection most common in infants and young children.


bronchiolitis British  
/ ˌbroŋkiəʊˈlaɪtɪs /

noun

  1. a condition in which the small airways in the lungs become inflamed by a virus. It is most common in infants, who become breathless in severe cases. Recurrent attacks may lead to asthma

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

bronchiolitis Scientific  
/ brŏng′kē-ə-lītĭs /
  1. An acute viral infection of the bronchioles seen mostly in infants and young children, caused most frequently by the respiratory syncytial virus.


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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

RSV can cause pneumonia, as well as a severe inflammation of the lungs’ small airways, known as bronchiolitis, the California Department of Public Health said.

From Los Angeles Times Oct. 30, 2025

RSV can develop into other conditions like bronchiolitis and pneumonia.

From Science Daily Nov. 13, 2023

These antibodies help protect against lower-respiratory tract disease, including bronchiolitis and pneumonia, caused by RSV.

From Salon Aug. 29, 2023

He was first diagnosed with sepsis, then bronchiolitis.

From BBC May 14, 2023

When I was 47, I was diagnosed with obliterative bronchiolitis.

From Washington Post Feb. 22, 2023

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